Dam spillage: You’re getting on our nerves– Ablakwa to Freda Prempeh

The fallout from the Akosombo Dam spillage continues, and tensions have escalated as Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, expressed strong disapproval of comments made by the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Freda Prempeh.

Minister Freda Prempeh claimed that the victims of the Akosombo dam spillage, particularly those in areas like Mepe, had refused repeated warnings to relocate. According to her, various government agencies, including the Volta River Authority, Water Resources Commission, and the National Disaster Management Organisation, had gone to great lengths to inform and prepare the affected community. They even conducted a simulation exercise at Mepe to help residents prepare for the impending spillage. However, the affected residents were adamant about not evacuating and chose to remain in their homes.

In response to the minister’s comments, Mr. Ablakwa lashed out, expressing his deep frustration and cautioning the minister against adding insult to injury, particularly for his constituents who were already suffering from the devastating flooding caused by the dam spillage.

also read: BoG ‘caught’ hiding over GH¢711m expenditure on remodelling of offices, guest house – Ablakwa alleges (ghanaeducation.org)

He raised a series of poignant questions to highlight the minister’s apparent lack of understanding of the situation. For instance, he questioned the minister on when the government had taken steps to discuss relocation plans and whether she was aware that the community had been in existence for over two centuries before the dam’s construction.

Mr. Ablakwa also emphasized that there were no squatters in the area and further probed the government’s apparent lack of proper relocation plans and infrastructural provisions. He asked how the government could expect the residents to relocate without providing suitable alternatives.

In conclusion, Mr. Ablakwa reiterated the Minority’s commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the matter. The minority party plans to file a motion for a full-scale investigation, with proceedings to be televised so that every Ghanaian can access and understand the details surrounding the dam spillage and its impact on the affected communities.

The flooding caused by the dam spillage has had dire consequences, displacing approximately 26,000 people and leading to substantial damage to farmlands and property in the affected areas. The ongoing dispute underscores the urgency of addressing the needs of the affected communities and ensuring their voices are heard in the process.

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