MP Ablakwa: GH₵2.86 million into Volta River Resettlement Fund by government not the purpose of the fund

MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has criticized government for allocating an amount of GH₵2.86 million into the Volta River Resettlement Fund to deal with the disaster at Akosombo Dam spillage  which he restated that was not the purpose of the fund.

According to him, the money was meant for compensation of people VRA owes them some years ago when they took their lands. 

The MP also added that the money won’t be sufficient looking at the extent of damage caused as a result of the spilling of excess water from the Akosombo Dam. 

"The disaster that has struck the flood-affected communities is so dire that a 'paltry’ GHS₵2.86 million cannot solve it", he said.

Mr Ablakwa noted that the funds have not even been disbursed, although the money was released into the Fund after the flood incident. 

“Granted that it was not being done and now they are doing it just because there is an issue of flooding in some parts of this country, shows you how responsive the VRA is to the very needs of our people,” he added.

The North Tongu Member of Parliament pleaded with government to send the displaced people to the Seglemi housing units to allow student's classrooms comfortable for their education. 

"If they will not allow people to move to Seglemi, then this is what they must do, reconstruct the houses - land is available - and compensation. The silence of the government is unacceptable”, he said.

Livid Ablakwa condemned the authority’s inability to control the spillage of the dam to ensure less impact on communities along the downstream of the Volta Lake, as experienced in 2010.

NADMO Team on Akosombo Spillage

He blamed the devastating impact of the spillage on negligence by officials of the hydroelectric dam and questioned why citizens should be subjected to such a man-made disaster at a time of advanced technology.

“People should not think that they can create this man-made disaster and get away with it”, he stressed adding that the parliamentary committee would do an extensive probe and bring persons culpable to book.

Ablakwa sharing safety jackets with victims

In the month of October 15, 2023, the Volta River Authority (VRA) initiated a controlled release of water from the Akosombo Dam. This measure was taken to safeguard the dam from potential overtopping. The increased water flow in the Volta River has, unfortunately, led to flooding in low-lying areas along its course, impacting communities such as Mepe, Battor, Sogakope Mafi, Adidome, Ada, and others.