BY: Daniel Orlando | Voltaonlinegh.com |
Over 4,000 residents living around the lower Volta Basin have been forced to abandon their homes due to flooding caused by the spillage excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Hydroelectric Dams.
Residents in the three Tongu Districts and Anlo of the Volta Region are counting their losses as their homes have been taken over by flood waters. According to the Volta River Authority (VRA), the spillage is due to the consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo Dam.
Residents who have lost their properties are currently homeless and seeking shelter at St. Kizito Senior High School at Mepe in the North Tongu district awaiting relief aids.
In the meantime, the Volta River Authority (VRA) has presented clothes, mattresses, blankets, toiletries, food items, among other relief items to National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) officials for onward distribution to the victims of the flooding.
Mr. Kenneth Arthur Mensah, Deputy Chief Executive of VRA in charge of services, handed over the items at Battor, the North Tongu District capital after visitng the affected victims in the company of the Volta Regional Minister Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the Railways Minister John Peter Amewu, the Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Seji Saji, officials from Volta River Authority, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Fire Service, the Ambulance Service, and the Ghana Army, which is providing boats for residents to cross the river.
He said the authority decided to provide the essential relief items in keeping with the VRA’s commitment to alleviate the plight of the communities.
Mr. Arthur said the items were meant to mitigate the difficulties and challenges being faced by the communities that had been adversely impacted as a result of the intensified spillage.
Seji Saji, Deputy Director-General of NADMO, appealed to residents to move to VRA’s designated safe havens as life is precious and sacred.
Dr. Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, assured affected residents for continuous government support.