Compensation for Akosombo Dam spillage victims non-negotiable – Ablakwa

The Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has stressed that a compensation package for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage is non-negotiable.

Ablakwa said the destruction caused by the dam’s spillage is so widespread and devastating that the only option is for the government to include a compensation package in the 2024 budget, which is yet to be presented to Parliament.

“Compensation is non-negotiable and we are uncompromising about that. I am glad that I led the Finance Minister to a number of the worst affected communities. It is just a few days ahead of the 2024 budget and I expect to see a line item in the budget dealing with compensation. There are two important things that we must work on urgently and fast; resettling because as long as the twenty-one camps continue to exist in schools, children can not have access to the schools for education to resume. We also need the compensation urgently because people have lost everything, livelihoods and properties are gone, and we need to get a compensation budget to help the people rebuild their lives.”

“I am glad the Finance Minister has been here and has seen things for himself and has seen how bad things are and have also seen how precarious the situation is, and I will want to see a reflection of his visit in the 2024 budget.”

Ablakwa also urged people not to immediately return to their homes after the floodwaters recede, as this could have dire consequences.

“I am appealing to people not to go back home when the water recedes because these were homes that were submerged under contaminated water,” Ablakwa said. “I have appealed to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to cordon off all of these homes and keep educating the people not to rush home in an attempt to salvage what is left.”