Akufo-Addo Slammed For Remarks To Dam Spillage Victims
The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has come under fierce criticism for some comments he made during his visit to the Volta Region to inspect and sympathise with victims of the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage.
The comments of the President have been criticized as unnecessary and unpardonable by a section of Ghanaians, most particularly members of the opposition party whose stronghold is the Volta region as well as natives of the region.
Prez Comments
The President was on record to have used the words, “I want the people here, beginning with you and the elders to understand that when something like this happens and government acts, government is acting for Ghanaians, all Ghanaians.
“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and it is my responsibility to try and help because if it’s a question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t vote for me, I shouldn’t be here because you don’t vote for me. But that’s not my concern and in any event, one day you will vote for me and my party.”
Backlash
The comment of the president appears to have offended some Ghanaians who believe it was without recourse to the dire situation the residents are plunged into.
One of them is the Member of Parliament for South Dayi constituency, Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor who said he was saddened by the comment.
“I am extremely sad tonight to hear our Prez of the Republic of Ghana speak in these unpardonable terms. It was absolutely needless & without any sensibilities to the victims of this ill calculated spillage. I’m being told VRA couldn’t have spilled without Govt say so. True?”
Former Deputy Minister for Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, condemned the comment as “terrible”. He tweeted, “What a terrible thing say!”
On X, many other Ghanaians spewed their anger at the President. One person said, “Why is government not rejecting taxes from Volta region and voltarians?…”
Another commented, “This is what he could say to the Voltarians ? His comments were unnecessary.”
President Akufo-Addo on Monday, October 16, 2023, toured districts in the region severely hit by flooding caused by spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams in the Volta Region.
A spillage exercise by the Volta River Authority (VRA) has caused flooding in districts such as South Tongu, Central Tongu, North Tongu, Shai Osudoku, Anlo, Ada East and Asuogyaman.
The situation has led to the displacement of thousands of people, destruction of property running into billions of cedis, loss of livelihoods and disruption of healthcare and other critical services in some parts of the Volta Region and parts of the Greater Accra Region and the Eastern Region.
