Study To Be Conducted On The Public Health Impact Of Devastating Akosombo Dam Spillage

• A non-profit is planning to research the public health consequences of the flooding caused by spillage from the Akosombo Dam
• Ensign Global College says it has the expertise and personnel to research and publish findings
• According to a UNICEF report, the Akosombo Dam spillage displaced 35,857 people, including women and children

A non-profit is planning to research the public health consequences of the devastating flooding in parts of the Volta Region caused by spillage from the Akosombo Dam.

Ensign Global College says that being a public health institution, it has the expertise and personnel to scientifically research and publish findings that would adequately ascertain the impact of the disaster that affected thousands of residents and make beneficial recommendations.

The disaster was triggered by the release of excess water from the Akosombo Hydro-electric Dam.

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According to a UNICEF report, the Akosombo Dam spillage displaced 35,857 people, including women and children—who were the most affected.

The hardest hit towns in the Volta Region include Mepe, Battor, Sogakope Mafi, Adidome, and Ada.

The research will use the Bakpa Awadiwoe-Kome community within the Adidome area as the focal point.

Shedding more light on the upcoming study, the Director of Academic Program at Ensign Global College, Dr Stephen Manortey, told YEN.com.gh that the disaster's effect on the community's vulnerable people would be a key objective.

"We also want to see the effect of the disaster on mental health, how people have been traumatised, and what could have been done to prevent some of these things, even in the future. We want to focus on the health impact but will spread tentacles a little bit into other areas," said Dr Manortey.

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The study's findings are expected to be published by the first week of March 2024, said Dr Manortey.

The revelation about the upcoming public health research was made when renowned NGO Engage Now Africa (ENA) collaborated with the institution to donate relief items and food to victims of the disaster on Monday, December 18, 2023.

Country Director of ENA, Cecilia Amankwah, explained to YEN.com.gh that the donation to the thousands of residents at Bakpa Awadiwoe-Kome and an island community in Ada was informed by ENA's prior engagement with the communities through its adult literacy and skills training and human trafficking programmes.

"Having a lot of our adult literacy and skills training participants here, we thought it wise to come here and see how they are faring and how they have been affected by the disaster. We hope this donation will ease the suffering of the women and their families a little bit," said Cecilia Amankwah.

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Akufo-Addo says he remains committed to solving the Akosombo Dam disaster

Meanwhile, YEN.com.gh reported in a separate story that the presidency is concerned about the flooding in towns in North Tongu districts and the subsequent displacement of thousands.

Eugene Arhin, director of communications at the presidency, said in a post on Facebook that Akufo-Addo remains committed to ending the problem.

Residents of several towns in the districts have been severely hit by flooding following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.

Source: YEN.com.gh