The Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta has disclosed that government has committed an amount of GH₵220 million to support those affected by the Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage in October.
Speaking during the 2024 Budget presentation in parliament on November 15, 2024, the finance minister noted that the budgeted amount is to support the relief phase for the communities affected by the Akosombo spillage as well as floods upstream in the Oti, Savannah, and Bono-East Regions.
According to him, for the restoration phase, Government through the Ministry of Agriculture will allocate additional resources to support the restoration of livelihoods.
“In addition, the Ministry of Finance, after the visit was quickened to respond. We have requested funding from the World Bank under the IDA Crisis Response Window (CRW) to support the resettlement of the victims, restoration of livelihoods, compensation and reconstruction of infrastructure in the affected communities.” Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta added
The Government through VRA, NADMO, and various agencies under the 13-member high level inter-ministerial committee, (comprising of the Ministries of Energy, Finance, Local Government, Environment, Interior, Health, Sanitation & Water Resources, Defense, Roads & Highways, Education, Information, Health, and Gender) have subsequently provided various forms of support to the impacted communities.
Food and related items donated to the affected people include, drinks, mattresses, mosquito nets and coils, clothes, baby food and diapers, sanitary pads, treated water services and storage tanks, solar lamps, sanitation services, restoration of utility services, and some social infrastructure.
Following the spillage, large areas of land, including farms and villages, have been inundated downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong dams.
The VRA started the spillage at the Akosombo and Kpong dams, both in the Eastern Region, on 15 September 2023, following a rise in the water level of both reservoirs due to appreciable levels of rainfall.
The spillage affected nine districts which include almost all the communities along the lower Volta Basin, resulting in widespread power cuts in the affected communities.
The districts affected are Central Tongu, North Tongu, South Tongu, Ada West, Ada East, Keta, Anlo, Shai Osudoku, and Asuogyaman.
In all, about 26,000 persons are said to be displaced as a result of the spillage. The GRIDCo sub-station in Fievie, Sogakope, in the Volta Region, has been inundated, leading to the shutting down of the station.
