Teachers in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region are facing significant challenges due to the ongoing spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams. This situation has severely impacted their living conditions and professional lives, leading many of them to consider leaving the district in search of more stable environments.
The District Chairman for the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) in North Tongu, Sammy Olando Bansah, expressed deep concern about the teachers’ plight in the district during an interview with Class 91.3 FM’s Volta Regional Correspondent, Kingsley Attitsogbui.
He pointed out that many of his colleagues had not yet returned to the district following the flooding caused by the dam spillage. Moreover, he highlighted the hardships that teachers face in their daily journey to reach their classrooms, which often involves crossing rivers. This challenging situation is prompting many teachers to contemplate relocating to areas with better working and living conditions.
Mr. Bansah, therefore, made a fervent appeal for immediate support to the affected teachers, underscoring their critical need for essential resources such as life jackets, accommodation, and access to clean drinking water. He also highlighted the challenges faced by teachers in areas where water sources have been contaminated due to the ongoing dam spillage.
The ongoing dam spillage in the Volta Region has had a significant impact, with at least 35,995 people displaced, as reported by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).
The North Tongu District has been particularly hard-hit, recording the highest number of displaced individuals, totaling 12,600 across 69 communities.
Currently, 4,220 people from these affected communities are seeking refuge in safe havens. This underscores the urgency of providing support and resources to the affected communities and individuals, including the teachers who play a crucial role in the education of the region’s children.