By Michael Dewonu
Former President John Dramani Mahama says the insensitivity of the government towards the plight of victims of the Akosombo dam spillage is unacceptable, and that five months after persons have been displaced by the flooding, central government has done nothing to lessen the sufferings of the flood victims.
The former President said this when he joined the chiefs and people of North Tongu to commission the North Tongu MP and Partners safe alternative housing initiative for spillage victims in Mepe to provide accommodation for some 300 flood victims affected by the Akosombo dam spillage.
In September last year, the Volta River Authority spilled excess water from the Akosombo Dam, the spillage displaced thousands and destroyed properties.
The displaced persons since the spillage have been seeking shelter in some school premises designated as safe havens and have been living on the benevolence of society.
Mepe and Battor in the Volta Region were heavily affected by the spillage. Thousands of residents lost their homes and properties, including their farms.
Five months into the disaster, some displaced persons are still living in tents, having lost their homes to the floods.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, together with some partners, completed a 63-unit apartment and moved the displaced persons into the new alternative apartment.
A total of 300 individuals benefit from the first phase of the MP’s alternative housing. With over 12,000 persons affected in the north Tongu constituency, the MP initiated a second phase with support from some individuals and corporate organisations to construct and house another 300 flood victims.
The fully furnished safe alternative housing initiative comes with 50 rooms for households, kitchen, TV room, and a store.
The commissioning of the second phase phase of alternative housing brought together chiefs from the Region, the National chief Imam and other diplomats who were there to lend their support.
The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was grateful to all individuals and corporate organisations who supported the constituency during the flooding and continued to support in raising the housing project.
Mr. Ablakwa called on government to make do with the contingency fund and the GHC200 million budgetary allocation to help in resettling the displaced persons.
Commissioning the Safe Alternative Housing initiative for use by the flood victims, Former President John Dramani Mahama described the disaster as unfortunate and one that could have been prevented, seeing that VRA has the capacity to determine the volumes of water coming into the dam.
Persons with disability, the aged and single mothers are among the vulnerable persons considered for relocation to the new safe alternative housing project, and more of such houses are expected to go up to accommodate the many who are still living in tents.
