President John Dramani Mahama has assured victims of the 2023 Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage that compensation payments will commence once the ongoing verification and assessment process is completed.
Speaking to residents during his Resetting Ghana Tour of the Volta Region on Thursday, President Mahama said the government was concluding the administrative procedures required to ensure that all eligible victims are compensated through a fair, transparent and accountable process.
The President acknowledged the devastating impact of the October 2023 dam spillage, which displaced thousands of residents and caused extensive damage to homes, farms, businesses and other sources of livelihood across several communities in the lower Volta Basin.
He said the disaster had placed a significant burden on affected families and praised residents for their resilience in the face of the crisis.
President Mahama further disclosed that the Minister for Finance would release funds allocated in the 2025 Budget to begin the payment of compensation once the verification exercise is concluded.
The government has earmarked GH¢225 million to support victims of the dam spillage, which resulted in widespread flooding and severe destruction across parts of the Volta Region.
The President added that should the allocation prove insufficient to cover all legitimate claims, additional budgetary provisions would be made in the following year.
The Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage, undertaken in October 2023 amid rising water levels, triggered extensive flooding along communities in the lower Volta Basin.
The disaster destroyed homes, farms and businesses, prompting sustained calls from affected residents for compensation and long-term support.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe