Akosombo Dam Spillage Disaster: Volta River Authority Claims GH¢9M Spent So Far On Relief

• The VRA has quoted a whopping GH¢9 million as what has been spent so far on relief efforts for the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage disaster
• At a press conference on Monday, October 23, 2023, a top official of the VRA said initial estimates show that 36,000 people have been affected by the situation
• The VRA disclosed that Zoomlion has been contracted to provide sanitary services in the affected areas

The Volta River Authority (VRA) claims it has spent GH¢9 million in ongoing efforts to alleviate the plight of the victims affected by the Akosombo Dam-induced flood.

This allocation, the VRA disclosed, is part of the GH¢20 million set aside to address the challenges faced by about 36,000 residents of nine districts spanning the Volta and other regions.

Addressing the press in Accra on Monday, October 23, Ken Arthur, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services at the VRA, said the authority remains committed to easing the pain and discomfort experienced by the flood victims.

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He gave the assurance that all those affected would receive assistance, leaving no one behind in this extensive relief effort.

The relief team, led by VRA and other organisations, has been providing food items to the affected communities.

Food items donated include bags of beans, maize, gari, sugar and rice, as well as various quantities of mackerel, cooking oil, palm oil, tomato paste, groundnuts, biscuits, fruit juice, powdered milk, and drinking water

They have also supplied non-food relief items, including mosquito repellent creams, mosquito nets, blankets, mattresses, solar-powered lanterns with telephone charging features, sanitary items, and more.

The VRA has contracted Zoomlion to provide sanitary services in the affected areas, including mobile toilets and sanitation services at the safe havens.

Moreover, an access road has been established in Mepe to the St. Kizito centre to enhance accessibility, thus avoiding the need to travel by boat.

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Additionally, efforts have been made to clear weeds from the Sogakope bridge to facilitate the flow of the river into the ocean.

Arthur emphasised that no one would be left behind in this emergency situation.

The Akosombo Dam spillage, which began on September 15, resulted from rising water levels in the Akosombo and Kpong hydro dams.

Many residents in the Lower Volta Basin lost their homes and farmlands due to the resulting floods. Nine districts in the region were affected, with inhabitants facing a humanitarian crisis.

President Nana Akufo-Addo visited the affected areas to observe the heart-wrenching stories that emerged from the South, Central, and North Tongu districts of the Volta Region, where the devastation caused by the floods has been profound.

Mepe, Tefle, Battor, Sogakope, Adidome, and Anlo have been submerged, and more than 26,000 people have been displaced and rendered homeless, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) also gave an update at the presser on Monday.

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Institutions and individuals donate to support victims

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported in a related story that relief items have been contributed by various institutions and individuals, including President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and other political figures who have visited the affected communities.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership and the Minority caucus have also extended assistance to the victims.

Source: YEN.com.gh