The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Freda Prempeh has pointed to the failure of residents residing along the Akosombo Dam to heed to evacuation warnings as the primary cause for the extensive damage incurred during the dam’s recent spillage.
Over 20,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in the Volta and Greater Accra areas due to the disastrous effects by the dam spillage.
The minister also underscored the considerable financial burden that the government must shoulder to provide essential assistance and relief to those adversely impacted by this unfortunate incident.
Speaking during a forum organised by Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) and its customers in Accra, Freda Prempeh said, “The Akosombo dam spillage, even though Volta River Authority, National Disaster Management Organisation, the Water Resources Commission, came together to educate the people in the community and did simulation exercises with them even at Mepe, yet, they refused to leave. They did not want to be evacuated, and they stayed there till the end when we started spilling.”
“Unfortunately, look at what is happening, and the government has to spend millions of money on relief items, and education. The water in the whole area is contaminated and the Ghana Water Company and Water Resources Commission will have to spend millions of money to treat the water before we can pass it through our pipes.
“So a stitch in time saves nine. Sometimes it’s difficult to accept the situation, but we will plead with all of you to accept it as it is. Water is life and is essential to everything”.
