Declare State of Emergency over Volta dam spillage – Mahama urges Akufo-Addo

Former President and 2024 presidential candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, has told President Akufo-Addo to declare a state of emergency on the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillages, given the extent of the havoc they have caused.

The spillage, which has displaced over 25,000 people, became intense on October 10, 2023.

President Nana Akufo-Addo visited some of the affected areas on Monday and assured them of immediate relief and longer-term, coordinated efforts to help restore the livelihoods of affected communities.

The president had earlier formed an inter-ministerial committee headed by the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frema Opare, to look into the flooding issues and possible resolution efforts.

So far, aid has come from the government through the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the Volta River Authority (VRA), corporate bodies, and individuals.

But, in a Facebook post on October 18, Mr. Mahama believes the magnitude of the disaster caused by the spillage warrants a declaration of a state of emergency by the President.

He argued that Ghana’s economy cannot adequately support the restoration of the livelihoods of affected households, hence the need for assistance from external sources.

“It is clear that the scope and scale of the flooding of communities along the Volta River are bigger than our crippled economy can bear.”

“I recommend to the government that it declare a state of emergency in the affected areas and request relief assistance from our bilateral and multilateral partners immediately”, Mr. Mahama opined.

Meanwhile, the Assemblies of God Ghana and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), in separate press statements on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, also called on the government to declare a state of emergency considering the severity of the flooding.