More Communities Submerged In Volta

…After Akosombo Dam Spillage

Many in the lowland communities along the Volta Lake in the Volta Region have been displaced after the Volta River Authority (VRA) commenced its annual spillage of the Akosomba Dam.

The most affected areas, according to The Anchor’s monitoring of the situation, are in the Sogakope, Addidome, Battor and its surrounding communities, under the North Tongu, Central Tongu and South Tongu districts.

The exercise, which has brought endless discomfort to residents, according to the authority, is due to a “consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo dam.”

But the residents, living close to the river, are packing out what they can salvage, while others who have their property inundated are crying for help.

Others who have had their personal belongings and houses destroyed are also now homeless.

Eyewitnesses say the water levels continue to rise and it appears there is no end in sight, as there is going to be more spillage, but not without monitoring by VRA.

Relief items are said to be on the way to be distributed by NADMO and the Member of Parliament of the North Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

Roads have also been affected and also two island communities have had some of the affected residents willingly move to live with families and friends. Others are waiting for NADMO and the VRA to evacuate them to safer places.

The MP for South Tongu, Kwabena Mensah Woyome, described the situation as distressing and a sad one.

According to him, 10 schools affected have been shut down, while buildings have collapsed. He said properties running into hundreds of thousands have all been destroyed.

Videos and photos sighted show the displaced residents carrying their personal effects, like mattresses, cooking utensils, clothes and electrical appliances, among others, to safer places.

Businesses have not been spared in the flood.

Affected residents and opinion leaders have sent a Save Our Souls (SOS) message appealing to government, especially the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), to come to their aid.

Recall that on September 12, the VRA said it had duly notified its key stakeholders of the impending spillage.

It comes a few weeks after residents in Agbozume in the Ketu South Municipality in the region also suffered similar fate due to weeks of heavy downpours in the areas.

According to the residents, the flood started as far back as May, this year, destroying many properties and rendering families homeless, leaving them distressed and frustrated.

Some of the affected communities were Nogokpo, Sonuto, Babanawokope, Kpedzakope and Ativuta. They have been blocked and completely cut off from the main Agbozume Township.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has announced power outage from its Sogakope Bulk Supply point on the back of the spillage from the Akosombo Dam.

The company says power supply in certain communities in the region would have to be disrupted.

In a press release, the Electricity Company of Ghana revealed that water from the spillage flooded the Sogakope Bulk Supply Point.

ECG noted that, for safety reasons, the supply point has been shut down – this will inadvertently affect the supply of electricity in some areas.

The affected areas include Sogakope, Akatsi, Adidome, Anloga, Abor, Keta and other surrounding areas.

“Engineers from both GRIDCo and ECG are on standby to restore power supply to affected areas as soon as the water recedes. The inconvenience caused by this shutdown is deeply regretted,” part of the statement read.

Source:Anchorghana.com