Relocate Spillage Victims To Saglemi Housing Units- CSOs To Prez
A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) identified as the Alliance of Feminists CSOs (AFCSOs) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to relocate displaced victims of the dam spillage exercise to the Seglemi Housing Unit in Accra.
According to them, the right to shelter is a fundamental human right.
“As a result of this disaster, schools are being turned into shelters for victims and CHPs (Community Health Planning and Services) compounds submerged under fast-rising floods not forgetting the damages to property amounting to over millions of Ghana cedis.”
“The Alliance of Feminists CSOs (AFCSOs) is calling on His Excellency the President of the republic as a matter of urgency to consider relocating flood victims to the Saglemi Housing Project while awaiting finality to be brought to this critical issue.”
This forms part of three demands they made in a statement on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.
They observe that response to the man-caused flood has been “reactionary, ad-hoc and ill structured further exposing victims to harsh environmental conditions, life-threatening situation and inaccessibility to essential health service delivery”.
Resignation
They are also demanding the resignation of the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa.
Like many others, the CSOs assert the spillage which has affected 26,000 people was avoidable and gross incompetence on his part.
“We call on the Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority to resign from his position for supervising a disaster of such magnitude with immediate effect.
“He has not only exhibited professional incompetence but a complete disrespect for human lives and property and should be prosecuted for this act.”
Compensation
They also want victims to be compensated for their losses which run into billions of cedis.
“We also call on the government to prepare adequate compensation for the victims to help minimize the impact of the flood especially the women and children as they would eventually be most affected in these areas.”
The VRA began spillage exercise on September 15, however, the flooding in the communities began on October 11.
The exercise which is meant to protect the Kpong and Akosombo dams has erased the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, displaced several others and destroyed properties.
