By: Roberta Gayode Modin
Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hajia Rabi Salifu has discouraged the opposition party from politicizing the Volta River Authority (VRA) dam spillage and called for broader stakeholder consultation to salvage the situation.
The NPP Officer’s statement was in reference to a publication by ModernGhana.com where the Volta Regional Democratic Congress was cited to have directed the Volta River Authority (VRA) to stop the spillage.
“The reality here is that if the VRA stops the spillage, it has dire consequences to the nation. Why must we politicize everything in this country?” She lamented.
She added that the devastation caused by the spillage of the dam has become a national disaster that needs stakeholder involvement, engagement and proactiveness from the appropriate authorities.
“The interventions should go beyond NADMO rushing in with mattresses, buckets, rice among others. After taking the oil, then what? It doesn’t replace properties lost. It doesn’t replace the investment made into farmlands and houses so I’m appealing to for stakeholder engagement “she said.
She also charged government to consider constructing more reservoirs, effective sensitization of the people and cross agencies engagement to find permanent solutions to the problems that comes with the spillage of dams across the country.
The VRA started the second level spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams from September 15, 2023 due to excess water in both reservoirs.
This has resulted in flooding of over 101 communities a long the voltage basin causing farmlands and houses to be submerged and many people displaced.
