Currently, the affected population in the flood situation resulting from the spillage of the Akosombo Dam by the Volta River Authority is estimated at over thirty thousand (30,000) people. The resultant floods have left many homes destroyed with individuals displaced for days, without any hope of life returning to normalcy any time soon.
It would interest the public to know that currently communities along the Volta Lake in South Dayi which are located upstream the Akosombo Dam, have began experiencing floods with a population of about 5,000 so far displaced. In addition to South Dayi, parts of North Dayi and Afadzato South are feeling the impact of the rising water levels in the Lake. The Districts along the Lake and downstream the Dam which have been affected include North, Central and South Tongu, and parts of the Keta areas.
The level of devastations so far being experienced, have reached levels that require the declaration of a state of emergency, except that that has not happened.
Unfortunately, Corporate Ghana remain unresponsive even in the midst of publications of the widespread disaster. This phenomenon is worrying considering the benefit that the larger population have received from the sacrifices that communities along the Lake have had to make in the nation’s interest for decades since the construction of the Akosombo Dams that has powered many industries, companies and homes since the 1960s.
I am of the view that, this remains one of the largest humanitarian crisis in this country. It has health, economic and social implications. People are housed in makeshift structures that are not fit for purpose. Some of those kept in these facilities include the aged, sick people, women and children, including in some cases, pregnant women.
Relief items in the form of drinking water, mosquito nets, tents, bedsheets, mattresses, food and food items, including oil, rice and tin fish, Wellington Boots, toiletries, used clothes, among others are needed urgently to enable these vulnerable people maintain some human dignity.
This, require some form of mass mobilization to aid the affected people. But, the help has been virtually nonexistent. Corporate Ghana had in the past, demonstrated more than enough capacity and ability to donate for festivals and tree planting drives across the country. For purposes of drawing their attention to the plight of the affected people, I would list a few of the certified companies listed on the Ghana Club 100 which include Scancom PLc, Newmont Golden Ridg, GCB Bank PLc, ASA Savings & Loans, EcoBank Ghana Plc, Nestle Ghana Limited, IT Consortium Limited, Polytank (Ghana) Ltd, Sage Distribution Ltd., Absa Bank, Abosso Goldfields Ltd, Benso Oil Palm Plant, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, Access Bank (Bank) Plc, Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited, Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited, Crop Doctor Ghana Limited, CAL Bank, First Atlantic Bank Limited, among a host of other top class companies. The churches are equally adamant in responding to the humanitarian needs of our people.
As a result of the urgent humanitarian situation in the affected areas, I would like to call on Corporate Ghana to give some serious attention to the situation in the affected areas. It does not speak well of us as a nation that such a disaster of the magnitude has befallen our compatriots, and we act as though nothing has happened, while we observe life as usual. It is not appropriate, it is not good. We can do better as a nation.
Signed:
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq.
MP, South Dayi