Akosombo Dam spillage: We’ve identified 20 evacuation centres; we’ve no issue reaching them – NADMO

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Laud Nartey
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The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has said it has identified twenty evacuation centres in the areas affected by the flood that was caused by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.

NADMO says it has no difficulties reaching the people in these centres to provide them with relief items.

Speaking on the mid-day news on TV3 on Friday, October 20, the Communications Director of NADMO, George Ayisi said “We are really giving relief support to all the about 20 evacuation points. Water supply, food items, and all other things, food and non-food items that they need to be able to live their normal life in such a situation, we are providing that so far.

He stressed “We have 20 identified evacuation centers, those there, we reach them directly and we are not having any challenges getting to them. However we all keep getting responses that there are some who have gone to integrate with families and are also facing difficulties so they need that support, they are the ones that we are trying to get the opinion leaders, the assemblymen to help us to reach them and sometimes.”

On this same issue, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto accused the Volta River Authority (VRA) of causing the disaster hence the authority must compensate the victims.

“The media has been phenomenal in highlighting the grave levels of devastation following the VRA-induced disaster. We are exceedingly grateful. The over 12,000 displaced constituents of mine will never forget you. Kudos TV3 for your comprehensive coverage from the ground at prime time this morning. Together we shall survive this man-made disaster and secure justice for all victims,” he tweeted.

 

He further stated that “Yesterday we cut sod for construction to begin on a First Sky Group housing project to relocate a good number of my 12,000 beloved displaced constituents. First Sky’s subsidiary known as Construction Ambassadors are executing the project which they promise to complete in record time. As our contribution, we are offering free land at all agreed three locations. Additionally, we stand ready to provide communal labour support.

 

“The relocation will begin to restore the dignity of my beloved constituents, ensure they live in much healthier conditions, and free the 21 schools being used as safe havens so our children can return to school. North Tongu shall never forget the generosity and humanity of the First Sky Group. May God bless you all bountifully. Together, we shall survive this man-made disaster.”

Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa said that the lake was experiencing inflows more than expected hence the spillage was going to continue.

“We are on phase II [of the spillage] right now and it is a cycle. It is normal at this time of the year for us to experience inflows. The difference is that we are getting more than expected and to safeguard this dam means that we have to spill water, that is the standard operation for any hydro dam but the inflows that we are seeing now are in excess.

“Definitely, as the cycle goes through this will recede so we are hoping it will recede in the next time,” he told journalists on Thursday, October 12.

“The spilling may continue even though we are anticipating that the levels may drop down to phase 1, which was started on September 15 but of course, we did not have much excess as we are seeing now, this is an emergency as we have seen from the beginning.

“Whether dredging or no dredging it is an emergency. The volume of water that is coming into the lake right now which we have to throw out, it means that we need to evacuate people from wherever they are to ensure they are safe until the inflows recede,” he added.

The VRA was accused of neglecting its responsibilities in the Lower Volta Basin hence the huge impact of flood caused by spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on communities.