The Volta River Authority (VRA) has stated that it set some GH$20 million for relief operations intended to help the impacted citizens in reaction to the most recent Akosombo Dam disaster.
The VRA revealed that this substantial fund was utilized to acquire essential relief items, including foodstuffs, mattresses, and medical supplies.
Engineer Ken Arthur, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the VRA, spoke on the authority’s dedication to mitigating the hardships faced by the over 36,000 individuals adversely impacted by the spillage.
He said, “VRA has also committed GH¢20 million to alleviate the adverse impacts on the affected communities as a result of the unavoidable spillage of excess water into the Akosombo Dam.”
He also assured the public that the VRA would continue to closely monitor the situation and collaborate with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and other relevant agencies to ensure the well-being of those affected. “We reiterate that no one will be left behind in this emergency situation,” Engineer Ken Arthur stated.
Addressing allegations that the VRA failed to provide adequate warnings to residents before the spillage, Engineer Ken Arthur defended the organization’s actions.
He explained, “We took all the necessary steps to ensure that the Dam was not compromised, and we had all the emergency preparedness protocols in place to forewarn the potentially affected persons before the spill event started.”
He further noted that due to these preparations, there have been no recorded casualties, as residents had sufficient time to evacuate dangerous areas.