Mahama to compensate Akosombo Dam spillage victims in first 120 days in office

Victims of the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage disaster would be compensated by a future Mahama administration.

This would be one of John Dramani Mahama’s 26 priorities within the first 120 days of his second administration.

In his "First 120-Day Social Contract" with the people of Ghana, Mr. Mahama promises to “initiate a probe into the man-made disaster caused by the VRA’s spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams that displaced and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands of citizens in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra regions.

Subsequently, he promises to “initiate immediate steps to compensate the flood victims, including those in the Oti, Bono East, and Savanna regions.”

The spillage in October 2023 displaced several thousand residents in littoral areas such as Mepe (Volta Region) and Ada (Greater Accra), as well as some low-lying areas in the Eastern and Bono Regions.

When President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo visited the disaster-hit areas in the Volta Region to commiserate with the victims on Monday, October 16, 2023, he assured the traditional leaders and people of Mepe that his visit was to bring them comfort, even though the area is a stronghold of the main opposition NDC.

“I think everybody here, and I hope you take the message across North Tongu, South Tongu, and Central Tongu, that when these things happen and the government acts, politics does not come into the matter at all. When I took the oath of office as president, I took the oath as the president of every single individual in Ghana, of all people in Ghana, and of all districts. Whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath, I am the president of all people. So, Togbe, you and your elders, I want the people here, beginning with you and the elders, to understand that when something like this happens and the government acts, the government is acting for all Ghanaians," he said.

He emphasized: "I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and are suffering, and it is my responsibility to try and help. If it were a question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t, I shouldn’t be here because you don’t vote for me, but that is not a concern. In any event, one day you will vote for me and my party."

"Togbe, I came here this afternoon to express my sympathies and to commiserate with all the people of Mepe and the surrounding areas," he added.