Following the spillage of Akosombo and Kpong Dams which has resulted in flooding which has destroyed many farmlands and also displaced over 39,000 people mostly in the Volta region. Stakeholders in Ghana’s Agriculture sector have expressed worried about possible food insecurity challenges.
At least 12,000 people have been displaced following the spillage of the Akosombo dam, Dr. Senanu Kwesi Dzokoto, Deputy Director of Health Services in the Volta Region, has revealed.
The Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced controlled water spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir.
Thousands of residents in South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and several other areas have had their homes submerged due to the spillage. Dr. Dzokoto noted that the health directorate was taking measures to ensure that these displaced persons were safe and had their pressing needs met in the interim.
“As of yesterday, we have close to 12,000 displaced persons. Our first immediate concern is to make sure that the 12,000 people are safe and free from any immediate risk. So some of them are in safe havens, especially in North Tongu, which is the worst-affected district in the Volta Region. And we have ensured that first of all, the sanitary conditions in the camps are quickly improved.
We have also made mobile teams available to them, which are providing psychosocial support, and we are on hand to deal with any health emergencies,” he stated.
Dr. Dzokoto stressed that they are educating residents on proper health behaviours to prevent them from contracting waterborne diseases.
“What we really want to avoid is to avoid something like cholera because that is the most common epidemic that may arise from a disaster of this nature,” he added.
The Deputy Director of Health Services in the Volta Region also indicated that 25% of Mepe in the North Tongu District has been submerged in water.
However, the deputy minister for Agric, Yaw Frimpong Addo says government will invest part of $40M loan in restoring farmlands in the Volta region to enhance food security.
The Deputy Minister said this when the Agric Development Bank (ADB) donated some $1M GHC to the ministry to support the upcoming National famers Day celebration.
Donating the cash to support the celebration, deputy manager of ADB Enu Ofori Addo said the gesture shows the Bank’s commitment to invest in agriculture and contributing to food security.
The 2023 National farmers Day celebration will come off at Tarkwa in the western region on December 1.
