Thousands of Ghanaians affected by the devastating Akosombo dam spillage and the recent tidal waves disaster in the Volta Region can now breathe a sigh of relief.
The government has allocated a total of GH¢442.5 million to support victims of these disasters, announced the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson during the presentation of the 2025 Budget and Economic Policy statement in Parliament on Tuesday.
Out of this amount, GH¢242.5 million will go towards supporting victims of the Akosombo dam spillage, which occurred in October 2023, displacing thousands of residents in the North, Central, and South Tongu districts.
The remaining GH¢200 million will be used to assist victims of the recent tidal waves disaster in the Ketu South constituency, which has destroyed homes and livelihoods, leaving many without shelter or means of survival.
The allocation is a welcome relief for the affected communities, who have been struggling to come to terms with the devastation caused by these disasters.
In addition to these allocations, the minister has indicated that, provisions have also been made to address the perennial sea erosion in the affected areas, with adequate allocation made to the Ministry of Water Resources, Works, and Housing to tackle the issue.
This move follows President John Mahama’s recent visit to the tidal wave-ravaged communities of Amutsinu, Salakope, and Agavedzi, where he assured the affected residents of government’s swift intervention to ease their plights and address the perennial challenge permanently.