By Jones Anlimah
Victims of the Akosombo spillage flooding disaster have been cautioned against going back to occupy their various houses even as the flooding water level recedes.
This is to make way for an environmental and safety impact assessment of all flooded and submerged houses as a result of the flooding that was occasioned by spillage of excess water from the Akosombo dam.
The District Chief Executive of North Tongu, Mr Divine Fenu Osborn, gave caution on the sidelines of a donation to flood victims at Mepe in the North Tongu district of the Volta region.
The Akosombo spillage led to extensive flooding in some parts of the country, with North Tongu in the Volta region being the hardest hit.
The devastating flood has displaced many families from their homes and destroyed sources of livelihood. While the floodwaters have started to recede as a result of the VRA ending the spillage from the dam, there is the tendency for some affected victims to want to go back to their once-occupied homes, which were submerged in the floods.
Even though some areas where the flooding occurred have dried up, the danger may not have fully subsided. There is therefore the need for a comprehensive evaluation to ascertain the safety and environmental conditions of the affected houses before they could be occupied again.
A recent visit by GBC NEWS to Mepe in the North Tongu district of the Volta region showed that even though the flooding water has receded significantly, its devastating effects are still visible. The news team also saw some affected victims returning from their once-submerged houses with some destroyed items to sell as scraps.
“I couldn’t take anything of mine when the water flooded my house. I have however managed to get these few spoilt items of mine now that the flooding water levels have reduced to sell and get something to take care of myself and my children. Even though the water level keeps receding, I still don’t think I can go to my house so I am appealing to government to come to our aid,” a victim, Rebecca Adopah told GBC News.
In an interview with the North Tongu District Chief Executive, Mr. Divine Fenu Osborn, on the sidelines of donation gestures by corporate entities, Private individuals, and philanthropic organisations to victims at Mepe in the North Tongu District of the Volta region, Mr Osborn said the safety and well-being of the affected residents are paramount and cautioned victims not to return to their houses until environmental considerations, infrastructure stability, and potential hazards are all thoroughly examined.
“People are trying to move back to their houses once the water is beginning to recede, and the warning is that we have to do some environmental impact assessment before they can move back to their houses. And so that caution is being thrown to us so that we inform our people that it is not safe for them now until that assessment is done, and they are getting informed to move back before they do that,” Mr. Osborn said.
