The social, economic, and health situation of the people affected by spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dam in Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions is getting worse day in and day out.
The challenge the affected people are going through has to do with no hospital operating in the enclave, where at least people can receive first aid if there is an outbreak of any waterborne disease or an epidemic. Since major hospitals in the Southern part of Ghana are now under the water.
The Member of Parliament for Keta, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, stated this on the Simpieso political show programme on Ahotor FM 92.3 in Accra, hosted by Emmanuel Martey.
He said the plight the affected persons are going through the spillage is very pathetic and it’s very difficult to get water to drink since, the spillage water has been polluted from mortuary, toilets pits and all kinds of contaminated substances making all the river sources for drinking water are been polluted.
He reiterated that the tidal waves that hit, Aflao, Anlo, and Keta in the past, have been worsening and the plight of the settlers around these communities, in the Southern part of the Volta region is really in a serious situation.
The Member of Parliament for Keta, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, opined that the sensitization, education, and alert signals from the Volta River Authority, has not made any effective impact, since this situation is a manmade disaster and all the engineering and relief package must be put in place before commencing the spillage.
As of now relief package is not forthcoming, and the National Disaster Management Authority (NADMO) is under resources to manage this huge relief multi-task. He further stated that this is a leadership failure on the part of the president’s response to this national emergency situation, coupled with his reckless comments turning the situation into politics.
Speaking on the same political show, Mr. Charles McCarthy Editor, Plainspoken Adviser, said the spillage has affected some communities in the Oti region where about 112 houses have been submerged in the water in Dambai and its environs. He said the government’s response to the situation is unfortunate and not encouraging.
He reiterated that the construction of the dam has an engineering strategy, in taking into consideration of generating power, and drainage way for spillage water from the Dam. What has happened to this engineering thought; he said the VRA has a question to answer. He said it’s very unfortunate we don’t have a proper drainage system in place for spillage water for the past 66 years after independence.
The former New Patriotic Party Youth Organiser Kwadwo Yeboah said there is a need for the government and state institutions to intensify relief packages to rescue the plight of the affected people through the spillage in the Volta region.
Story by: AYM Kukah E:mail:kukahalexander7@gmail.com
