On Monday, October 16, President Nana Akufo-Addo created some controversy by subtly reminding certain victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage in Mepe, Volta Region, that he had visited to express his sympathy, despite the fact that the residents there do not support his political party.
The flooding caused by the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong hydro dams has compelled numerous communities in the North, South, and Central Tongu districts of the Volta region to evacuate, leaving them with no choice but to salvage what remains of their belongings.
The situation is quite dire, with staff at the Comboni Hospital being forced to evacuate their quarters and seek shelter under a pavilion. Patients have also been discharged, with only 10 in critical condition remaining. If the water levels do not recede soon, they may also need to be discharged.
President Akufo-Addo, while touring the severely affected districts, assured the people that the government will do everything within its power to resolve the situation.
He stated, “My visit here is a very simple one. It is to come and sympathize and share in your grief about the tragedy that has occurred. When it happened, I was in America on official business, and the Chief of Staff contacted me in America to inform me of what had happened, and we discussed the necessary actions.”
“We agreed to establish an inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the government’s response to the tragedy,” he added.
The president also assured the flood victims of additional relief items and mentioned that nine safe havens have been set up in Mepe for those displaced to ensure their safety. All the victims in the shelters have received relief items from NADMO.
Touching on the issue of destroyed farmlands, President Akufo-Addo assured that the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would work together to find a comprehensive solution to address the challenges.
He emphasized that despite not winning many votes from the region, he visited to express his sympathy as the leader of the country.
He urged Ghanaians to refrain from politicizing such incidents and stated, “When these things happen, and the government takes action, politics should not be a part of the matter. When I took the Oath of Office as President, I swore to be the president for every single individual in Ghana, all people in Ghana, all districts, and whether they voted for me or not. Once I have taken the oath, I am the President of all the people, so I want the people here to understand that when something like this happens, and the Government takes action, it is for all Ghanaians.”
