Dam Spillage: Vice President donates GH¢160,000 to displaced victims

• Posted on October 19, 2023October 19, 2023
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made a personal donation of GH¢160,000 to victims of the devastating spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam.

Several communities in eight districts, mostly in the Volta Region as well as the Eastern and Greater Accra regions, have been submerged by the spillage, leaving thousands displaced.

Dr. Bawumia made the donation during his visit to some of the affected communities in the Volta Region on Wednesday, October 17 to support the victims.

So far, the government, through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Inter-Ministerial Committee set up on the instructions of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to manage the disaster, has responded by evacuating affected people to 20 holding centres and also provided emergency relief items.

Dr. Bawumia’s personal donation, it was explained, is to complement the support government has so far offered to the displaced victims.

While expressing his sympathies, the Vice President also assured victims that government is not only committed to providing emergency solutions but also committed to providing relief to restore the livelihoods of those affected.

“When I look into the eyes of our mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers who are seated here, I see so much sadness. Their lives have been turned upside down as a result of what has happened,” Dr. Bawumia said.

“These are people who were going about their normal duties everyday to take care of themselves, but now they have to really depend on others for livelihood and I am saddened by that.

“I want to assure that government will do everything possible to assist the affected people to provide relief and also restore the livelihood of those affected.

“We are not only looking at temporary relief, we are also looking at a more sustained support through the Inter Ministerial Committee, so that those affected can restore their livelihoods.”

Among communities the Vice President visited were: New Bakpa in Central Tongu District as well as Sogakope and Sokpoe, both in the South Tongu District.

The Vice President was accompanied by Interior Minister Ambrosse Dery, Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Volta Region Minister Dr Archibald Letsa and officials of NADMO and the Volta River Authority (VRA).