North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has accused the Volta River Authority (VRA) of failing to put in place the right safety measures prior to the spillage of excess water from the Akosombo Dam.
In the view of Mr Ablakwa, the devastation would have been avoided if the VRA had put in place the safety measures.
Communities affected by the flood caused by the spillage including Mepe and Battor in the North Tongu Constituency have been severely hit by the flood occasioned by the spillage.
In a tweet, he said “We are still waiting on the Volta River Authority to announce their non-negotiable plans for full compensation of all victims of their unprecedented spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams.
“This large-scale devastation of biblical proportion was totally avoidable if the VRA management had put in place the right safety precautions and adequate community engagement, particularly, as they were the only ones who knew the quantum of water to be discharged and the dire implications for life and property. That would have averted the unfolding catastrophe.
“I sincerely hope we shall not be blamed when we begin series of legitimate actions to demand justice for VRA’s displaced victims and to end VRA’s continuous costly dereliction. We demand nothing but justice!”
We are still waiting on the Volta River Authority to announce their non-negotiable plans for full compensation of all victims of their unprecedented spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams.
This large-scale devastation of biblical proportion was totally avoidable if the VRA… pic.twitter.com/QxQWC1hJ0M
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 13, 2023
Former President John Dramani Mahama has also urged the Volta River Authority (VRA) to expedite the dispatch of the relief items it had promised to give to the victims of the flood.
He told journalists after visiting the affected areas on Friday October 13 that “The people really need help but unfortunately, my understanding is that NADMO has nothing, happily, VRA said they are going to support them with some relief items. So I will thank VRA and appeal to them that the people are in need and so whatever relief they want to give them they should expedite it so that they can assist people with the current situation.”
Spillage of water from the Akosombo dam is expected to continue until the excess inflows in the lake recede, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA).
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa said that the lake is currently experiencing inflows more than expected hence the spillage is 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.