Cabinet begins 3-day retreat on economy, Akosombo Dam-induced flood today

President Akufo-Addo and his cabinet will today, Friday, October 20, begin a three-day retreat to discuss measures to revive the country’s economy.

The engagement will also focus on the measures the government needs to undertake to secure the second tranche of the $600 million balance of payment support for Ghana after reaching a staff agreement with IMF.

Cabinet will also consider immediate measures to be implemented to help the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage.

On September 15, the Volta River Authority began spilling excess water due to rising levels of the Akosombo and Kpong hydro dams.

Weeks after the spillage began, many residents living along the Lower Volta Basin lost their homes and farms to the floods caused by the spillage.

Currently, nine districts find themselves reeling under the fury of the racing spillage, their inhabitants caught up in this humanitarian crisis.

The heart-wrenching tales emerge from the South, Central, and North Tongu districts of the Volta Region, where the devastation knows no bounds.

The once vibrant communities of Battor, Tefle, Mepe, Sogakope, Adidome, and Anlo have been submerged, their existence nearly swallowed by the unrelenting waters.

Many residents have self-evacuated while NADMO and other agencies have joined the rescue efforts.

Some institutions and individuals have also presented relief items to residents.

Meanwhile, the Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has called on stakeholders to think of re-engineering the Akosombo Dam to manage spillage and its ravaging effects on the livelihoods of communities.

He said this is necessary to safeguard the dam, lives, livelihoods, and properties amidst the threat posed by climate change.