Freda Prempeh: Minister Slammed On X For Blaming Akosombo Dam Spillage Victims For Their Predicament

• Comments by Freda Prempeh about the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage disaster have been heavily criticised on social media
• The sanitation minister had suggested that there were attempts to get the residents to move before the spillage but they refused
• However, Ghanaians on X said the comments were insensitive and unbecoming of an official of the government

Recent comments made by Freda Prempeh, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, regarding the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage have ignited a wave of backlash on social media platform, X.

Prempeh made the remarks during a Ghana Water Company Limited event on October 23.

She suggested that the victims of the spillage shared part of the blame for their challenges, as relevant state agencies had warned them to evacuate, but their warnings went unheeded.

Read also

20-year-old SHS graduate teaches kids affected by the dam spillage

However, there has been a groundswell of outrage against the minister's statements on X.

Many accused her of lacking empathy, while others deemed her comments irresponsible. Some users even suggested taking punitive measures against government officials making such comments.

“We have to start lashing some ministers," someone commented.

"The level of nonsense we Ghanaians have to endure from the people we pay to make our lives easier is beyond belief," another person slammed.

"Just saying people need to evacuate is not enough though. Were there arrangements made to house them, provide services and supports for them? Did we simply expect people to leave their livelihoods and homes just like that without any proper alternative arrangements?" another person asked.

This incident marks the second time a government member has faced criticism for comments related to the spillage and the resulting humanitarian crisis.

Read also

Prempeh College replies NSMQ over petition snub: "We are not a pushover school"

President Nana Akufo-Addo faced backlash for appearing to link political allegiance to his presidential mandate during his visit to Mepe, one of the severely affected areas.

Critics accused him of insensitivity regarding the life-threatening situations citizens were experiencing.

Minister Prempeh is part of an inter-ministerial committee tasked with overseeing the government's response to the disaster, with the Chief of Staff leading the committee's efforts.

The minister's claim that there were sensitisation programmes to get residents to evacuate has been described as "blatant falsehood."

MP for the area, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said there would be a probe into the decision to spill water from the dam.

Government moves to prevent flooding in another part of the Volta Region

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh has reported in a separate story that authorities in Keta in the Volta Region have opened the Keta Lagoon floodgates to mitigate rising water levels that have caused flooding in parts of the town.

Read also

Akosombo dam flooding: Military makes u-turn after initially packing up boats, abandoning Mepe flood victims

The floodgates and a sandbar at Azizadzi were opened to allow excess water from the lagoon to enter the sea on Monday, October 23.

The move is expected to also eventually mitigate the devastating flooding of towns in the Tongu districts following the spillage from the Akosombo Dam.

Source: YEN.com.gh