Majority to summon VRA officials to Parliament over Akosombo dam spillage

The majority leader in parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has called for the management of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to appear before the House to answer questions concerning the spillage of the Akosombo dam that wrecked many homes in some parts of the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions.

Mr. Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that the presence of the management of VRA before the House will elaborate more on the reasons for the spillage and the possible ways to forestall similar occurrences in the future.

“I believe we may need to find some answers to some questions, and I guess the speaker is not yet here, but when the speaker comes, we will have some discussions with him, and I believe it will be important for us to invite VRA to come and fully brief the house about what has happened, the repercussions, and how to avoid any future events,” the majority leader noted while speaking on the floor of parliament on October 31, 2023.

The spillage, which began on September 15, has displaced about 27,000 people, according to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

Farmlands have also been completely submerged, with growing fears of an increase in poverty levels in the affected communities due to the loss of livelihoods in the communities that are known for fishing and farming.

A few days after the unfortunate incident, the government set up a 13-member inter-ministerial committee to coordinate the government’s efforts in assisting and providing relief to those affected by the flooding.

Management of the Volta River Authority (VRA), the government, Corporate Social Organizations(CSOs), and well-to-do individuals based in Ghana and abroad extended their support to the affected persons displaced from their homes due to the dam spillage.

Management of VRA ended the spillage exercise on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.