Dam Spillage: Ghanaians Call For Compensation For Victims

Ghanaians have called for some form of compensation for people in the communities affected by the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong dams.

It is reported that over seven districts in the Greater Accra, Eastern and Volta regions have been affected by the spillage exercise by the Volta River Authority (VRA) which started on September 15, 2023.

Ghanaian Times reports that districts such as South Tongu, Central Tongu, North Tongu, Shai Osudoku, Anlo, Ada East and Asuogyaman are some of the hardest hit districts.

People have been forced to relocate while farmlands and other properties have been, if not completely, almost buried in the flood waters. Some lives have perished in the process as well, opemsuo.com understands.

A section of Ghanaians deems the action negligent on the part of the Authority but it has argued the necessary notices about the spillage were issued to residents in the surrounding areas as well as to other stakeholders.

The VRA planned to shed about 183,000 cubic feet of water from the reservoir which is pegged at 400,000 cubic feet of water per second.

Compensation
The Members of Parliament for Madina and North Tongu Constituencies want the VRA to offer a decent compensation packages to victims of the flooding.

Francis Xavier Sosu asserts the spillage and its resultant effect violates fundamental human rights.

According to him, the VRA reneged on its responsibility to protect the community in the course of discharging their duties.

“VRA owed a duty of care to this community. They negligently breached this duty and must pay adequate compensation to alleviate the pain and suffering of these people. This is an unpardonable failure on the part of Engineers of VRA. Serious violations of rights to life and property,” he tweeted.

The MP for North Tongu whose constituency was gravely affected said his outfit was awaiting “non-negotiable plans for full compensation of all victims”.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa asserts that it was avoidable.

“This large-scale devastation of biblical proportion was totally avoidable if the VRA management had put in place the right safety precautions and adequate community engagement, particularly, as they were the only ones who knew the quantum of water to be discharged and the dire implications for life and property. That would have averted the unfolding catastrophe.”

He also alluded to a legal action against the Authority.

UTAG Help
Meanwhile, the University Teachers Association (UTAG) branch at the University of Ghana (UG) has encouraged the government and the necessary agencies to devise appropriate measures to put an end to the recurrence.

“We urge the Government and all agencies involved in the management of the Akosombo Dam to devise mechanisms that allow for the maintenance of this important national facility, without the perennial displacement of people from their homes and the untold hardships such exercises bring upon them.”

Further, it availed itself to the government in putting an end to the perennial challenge highlighting it has the expertise.

“As UTAG, we have the expertise and are willing to help the government in addressing this perennial problem.”

Gov’t Committee
The government of Ghana has also announced a committee has been put together to coordinate the government’s response to the situation.

According to a statement put out by the Ministry of Information, the Committee was established at the instance of President Akufo-Addo.

Headed by the Chief of Staff, Aksua Frema Osei Opare, it has members including the Minister for National Security, Kan Dapaah, the Minister for Interior, Ambrose Dery, the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister for Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori Atta, the Minister for Local Government, Dan Botwe and the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso Boakye.

The rest are the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwaku Amoako Atta, the Minister for Environment, Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister for Sanitation, Freda Prempeh, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor and the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.