Victims of Akosombo Dam spillage still living in tents, classrooms after a year

Several victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage disaster continue to inhabit under tents erected for them as safe havens and unable to return to normal lives, one year after the debilitating incident.The delay in completing housing units for them has left many still those tents and classrooms.On September 15, last year, the Volta River Authority (VRA) opened the floodgates of the Akosombo dam to protect it from structural integrity following rising water levels, and in the process, the outflows displaced thousands in the surrounding area.The lack of timely government and VRA's intervention sparked frustration among the victims.Madam Joan Asumah, a 27-year-old pregnant woman, and Madam Esenam Morkli, a 16-year-old pregnant girl are among, those who still under the tents and unable to access antenatal care due to financial constraints.Several victims voiced their anger and disappointment.Many are struggling to recover their livelihoods, which were destroyed by the flood a year on.Some farmers lament ed the loss of their crops and pig farms as businesspeople and women also lost their shops and homes.Togbe Kwasi Nego, the Mankralo of Mepe has appealed to the government to swiftly intervene and restore the former glory of the Mepe community.He stressed compensation for the flood victims and the devastated road networks.Togbe Nego also entreated the government to fast track the building of the resettlement housing project for the victims.Mr Divine Osborne Fenu, the North Tongu District Chief Executive, earlier told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the government was working to restore comfort to the victims and promised to allocate the resettlement rooms to them soon.However, with 380 victims still living in tents at Degorme, 460 at Holy Christ, 360 at Aveyime, and 160 at Agbetikpo, with much work remaining to be done to address their plight.In March, this year, the government, through the Ministry of Works and Housing, initiated a 100-unit resettlement housing project to provide shelter for the victims who lost their homes.Source: Ghana News Agency