The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning of the Republic of Ghana, Kenneth Ofori Atta has announced that the Government of Ghana would provide GHS 220 million to offer relief assistance and support to residents affected by the flood caused by the Akosombo and Kpong Dams’ spillage.
The Finance Minister made this statement during the presentation of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana for the Financial Year 2024 on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Parliament.
According to Mr Ken Ofori Atta, government’s GHS 220 million allocations would also provide assistance and support to residents who were equally affected by flood upstream of the Volta River.
“Mr. Speaker, the Government has budgeted an amount of GH¢220 million to support the relief phase for the communities affected by the Akosombo spillage as well as floods upstream in the Oti, Savannah, and Bono-East Regions”.
Ken-Ofori Atta
Government To Commit Additional Funds To Support Flood Victims
Again, the Finance Minister indicated that the government as part of its restoration plans through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture would provide additional financial support to restore livelihood in the affected communities of the flood resulting from the Akosombo and Kpong dams’ spillage.
According to Mr Ken-Ofori Atta, the government has requested funding from the World Bank under the International Development Association (IDA) Crisis Response Window (CRW) to support the resettlement of the victims, restoration of livelihoods, compensation and reconstruction of infrastructure in the affected communities.
Furthermore, Mr Ken-Ofori Atta indicated that the government through the Volta River Authority (VRA), the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), and various agencies under the 13-member high-level inter-ministerial committee established by the government to coordinate its response to the flood have provided various forms of support to the impacted communities by the flood.
He noted that the support by the government included food and related items, drinks, mattresses, mosquito nets and coils, clothes, baby food and diapers, sanitary pads, treated water services and storage tanks, solar lamps, sanitation services, restoration of utility services, and some social infrastructure.
Moreover, the Minister of Finance recounted that a visit by the officials of the Ministry of Finance in collaboration with the Volta River Authority to the victims of the Akosombo Dam Spillage in Mepe was very ‘revealing’ and ‘sobering’.
Additionally, Mr Ken-Ofori Atta stressed that there is a need for the country to recognize the place of climate policy and financing to help address the long-term effects of climate change on victims of drought, flooding, and other adverse weather events in the country.
He noted that the Ministry of Finance has applied to the Global Shield Against Climate Risk Fund, an initiative launched by President Nana Akufo-Addo and Chancellor Olaf Scholz during the COP 27 in Sham ElSheikh, to access some financial resources to support communities upstream and downstream of the Akosombo Dam.
Finally, the Finance Minster, Ken-Ofori Atta expressed his excitement that the unfortunate disaster did not claim any life in the affected communities and assured the affected residents in the communities of government’s continuous support.
‘I convey the sincere appreciation of H.E. the President and the entire Government to all groups and individuals who have empathised with and supported the affected families. It is in this same spirit that we must continue to be grateful to God that no lives have been lost due to the devastating spillage from the Akosombo Dam”.
Ken-Ofori Atta
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa expressed excitement about the government allocation of GHS 220 million to provide relief assistance to the Akosombo dam flood victims for the 2024 Financial Budget.
According to Mr Ablakwa, he is looking forward to the translation of the government’s GHS 220 million allocations to provide adequate resettlement and compensation for his constituents who were affected by the flood.
“It is heartwarming to acknowledge that the government has made a specific commitment of GHS220 million for the relief phase as contained in the 2024 Budget to address the devastation caused by the recent VRA-induced floods. I also take judicial notice of pledges by the Finance Minister in Parliament for the restoration phase which include additional resources for the Ministry of Agriculture to support livelihoods, and a formal request to the World Bank under the IDA Crisis Response Window”.
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
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