Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the government to promptly replace all national identity cards, passports, and other essential documents lost by victims impacted by the Akosombo dam spillage.
Ablakwa stresses the urgency of replacing crucial identity documents such as birth certificates, health insurance cards, voter ID cards, passports, and Ghana cards for those affected.
He argues that this measure is essential on humanitarian grounds to ease the burden faced by these individuals.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Ablakwa said, “I’m calling on the government to replace thousands of lost Ghana Cards, Health Insurance Card, Voter ID Cards, Birth Certificates and Passports. For victims of far-reaching catastrophic consequences of the September 5, 2023 spillage, from the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority.
“The time has come for the relevant public institutions to carry out a special and comprehensive exercise in all affected constituencies to immediately replace these important documents.”
He expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their support in assisting the victims during this challenging time.
However, in response, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stated that such requests should be directed to the appropriate institutions for proper redress.
“The call should be made to the EC, National Health Insurance Authority and others. We cannot narrow everything to the government, and we may not be getting the solution.
“Let’s move from our offices beyond the talk on the floor of the house and move there, they are our colleagues. Let’s direct this appropriately so that we get solutions.”