In the throes of mayhem, politicians scramble voraciously for the prized commodity of the votes of Volta.
It may have been a different story, had it been any other year than the year immediately preceding an election or the election year itself.
Subtly but evidently, campaigns in Tongu districts and affected areas have set off far ahead of many constituencies. Albeit, this time, a real showdown than the usual stage and speech campaign. For the votes of Volta, a symphony of passionate speeches will not suffice the morsels and essentials, strategically placed billboards won’t be better imprints than the memory of those who run to their rescue, and relentless campaign maneuvers will not afford moments victims shared with those who walked their repressive journey by their side.
Amidst a sea of fervent waters and behind-the-scenes power plays, political figures have been engaged in a tumultuous dance of promises and alliances, seeking to secure the trust of the electorate ahead of the 2024 General Elections.
In a far more politically predictable land, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), perhaps, perceived it could make a new lover of the well-known wife of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). It perhaps thought, that by running to its rescue it could woe her into his arms, or at least, attempt to the admiration of all.
Behold, the NDC, jealously ready to guard the love of his life; Volta Region.
Acknowledged in the controversial speech of the President at Mepe, the catastrophe that has befallen the new heroes for the sake of a constant supply of electricity detests politics; partisan politics. But who could have clamped the wings of politicians, a year away from a crucial general election?
Not when right after such insisting words, the president himself fell prey to his word and descended into partisanship, hoping he could jokingly go through the cracks.
Mepe and its surroundings are no longer lands hit only by the spilled waters of the Akosombo and Kpong dams, they are also land at the mercy of brutal politics now.
The entire disaster is beginning to stink of partisan politics. Accusations and counter-accusations, sabotaging, whipping, undermining, lobbying, caucusing, propaganda, probing, threats, in the throes of mayhem, politicians scramble voraciously for the prized commodity of the votes of Volta.
‘The NDC ready to hit wherever it hurts the NPP the most‘, the president’s delay in visiting the affected areas, his speech loosely left to over-politicization, unclear national direction even after the establishment of the inter-ministerial committee, delay in the declaration of a state of emergency, accusations of scanty supply of NADMO-led relief items, the list goes on and on.
While both major parties have by mouth said the disaster calls for national rallying, policies, and actions have shown otherwise and are likely to deteriorate.
Parliamentary Probe Looms
An ensuing impasse between the North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Sanitation Minister, Freda Prempeh, shadows many to come over this mayhem. Mr. Samuel Okudzeto described some comments by the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, that suggested that the people of Mepe and other areas affected by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam refused to be evacuated, as a blatant lie and an insult to the people.
The Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency expressed how disheartened he was at the comments.
“These Akufo Addo ministers should stop adding insult to injuries. We are pained, depressed, and devasted, they should stop these things,… We have had enough of their blatant lies. She should tell us when and the date. When did they come here? She, has she come here before? The people should move to where?
“She should show us where it was constructed for my people to move to that they refused to go. Was it the Military, NADMO, or who?”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP
Following that, he indicated that the Members of Parliament in the affected areas intend to file a motion in parliament for a full investigation into the disaster.
“We are filing a motion for a full scare probe, it will be live on television, and we will know exactly what happened. All these blatant lies will be exposed. The officials who caused this will face the law and we will demand full compensation.”
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, MP
While many believe that the call for accountability is in order, quite a significant number also believe the call amidst the mayhem may stiffen the growing partisan politicization of the disaster. That might avert the attention of the government and the political class from working together to alleviate the plight of the affected people.
As a show of leadership, the government must be transparent and more engaging. Meanwhile, in the spirit of national cohesion, the opposition must lower its opportunistic (however justifiable by the tenets of politics) shots a little to get done with the disaster as fast as possible.
Unignorably, the excesses of politics, if it persist as is beginning to, may worsen the plight of people in Mepe and all the affected areas.
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