By: Kingsley Attitsogbui| Ho
The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State in the Volta Region, Togbe Afede XIV has called for compensation for the affected communities to cushion them for the loss of their properties as a result of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage.
According to him, people have lost so much to the spillage which could have been prevented by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
“These people may be entitled to some form of compensation for their lost possessions and means of support. They are not at fault. Simply telling them that you are about to spill water is insufficient, in my opinion. No matter how much caution they wish to take, I don’t believe they would have foreseen that their homes would suddenly become flooded with water because it is not simple for people to just abruptly leave their homes when they have not faced any such necessity for many years.” he said.
Togbe Afede made this call after he had toured the affected communities in the three Tongu Districts on Saturday, October 21, 2023 to commiserate with the victims for their lost.
He said the Volta River Authority should have ensured more controlled way of the spillage taking into consideration the communities downstream.
“Some kind of responsibility must be accepted, and the people must be compensated for the loss of properties, livelihood and others beyond the mere provision of relief items” he reiterated.
As part of his tour, Togbe Afede XIV met his colleague chiefs of the affected communities to encourage them, adding that God is with them and the same God will see them through the current situation.
The Agbogbomefia presented a Cheque for GHC100.000.00 to the victims of the three Tongu Districts, thus: North Tongu, Central Tongu and South Tongu on behalf of the Asogli State to alleviating the suffering of the people and called on others to come to the aid of the victims.
The donation was received by Members of Parliament for the South Tongu and Central Tongu Constituencies, Hon. Wisdom Kobena Woyome and Hon. Alex Gabby Hotordze respectfully before Togbe Kwasinyi Kakaklolo Agyeman V, Chief (Dufia) of Adidome with some elders in the Central Tongu District of the Volta Region.
Togbe Kakaklolo V, expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Agbogbomefia for the kind gesture and having them in mind in terms of the flooding situation. He said the donation would go a long way to supporting the victims.
He called on stakeholders to consider setting up a proper National Disaster Management Fund for the riverine communities who have over the years sacrificed for the construction of the dams which give Ghana electricity.
About 10 Districts are affected in the Volta Region as a result of the Akosombo and Kpong dams spillage of excess water which begun on September 15 2023.
They are North Tongu, South Tongu, Central Tongu, Keta, Anlo, South Dayi, North Dayi, Ketu South, Afadzato South and Kpando districts.
With the latest updates from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), at least 31,000 people have been displaced from the homes as a result of the spillage.
The Agbogbomefia was accompanied by Chiefs and Queens including Elders of the Asogli State Council.