When the floods visited communities downstream, it left no sector out; education came to a halt as schools became the safe haven for many victims.
During his trip to Mepe, the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, reaffirmed his dedication to resolving the educational challenges encountered in the flood-affected regions caused by the dam spillage, which resulted in the suspension of formal education.
Emphasizing the significance of a unified effort to enhance the circumstances for both students and educators, particularly in the most severely affected areas, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum engaged with stakeholders from the education sector and the local traditional council, Mepe Traditional Council.
“We are going to work together so that one day we will have a story to tell. And that story should be, that amid all the challenges, we accommodated each other, we worked together and together we made Mepe a better place than before the disaster.
“That is my commitment; that out of the ashes, something great will come out of this.”
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum
He also entreated all stakeholders to be more tolerant so that the disaster is dealt with a united front.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Health Service has introduced a free health package for victims in affected areas.
The unveiling of this initiative was announced by Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, during his visit to the impacted regions.
He highlighted that individuals who might have lost their Ghana health insurance cards and medications in the flood would be eligible for complimentary medical services.
Additionally, he provided a detailed account of the conditions in the affected areas, shedding light on the various sectors that have been impacted.
“The coverage [is wide] notwithstanding the efforts we have made, [we have] put in. The [impact of the] spillage is south of the dam. Three Voltas feed into the lake. There is the White Volta, the Black Volta, and the Red Volta. They all flow into the lake. During the rainy season, the lake expands its geographical space. All the embankments are covered by water. But after the rainy season, for the last three years, the lake has not gone [this] severe.
“The whole of the community is under the lake; health infrastructure, clinics, schools, etc. have all been flooded. And so there is not just the humanitarian end of it, but there is also the medical, the public health end of it and the educational end of it. In my constituency, some schools have had to shut down.”
Dr. Patrick Kumah Aboagye
Government’s Commitment To Protect Lives
Furthermore, the Deputy Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, has emphasized that the government is actively working to safeguard the residents in the regions impacted by the flooding triggered by the Akosombo Dam’s spillage.
Speaking to reporters in Accra on Tuesday, October 24, prior to the press briefing by the Chair of the 13-member inter-ministerial committee established to manage the flood situation, she highlighted the presence of health officials from the Ghana Health Service and the Ministry of Health in the affected areas, providing assistance to the affected individuals.
“We have the Ministry of Health and Ghana Health Service ensuring that we don’t have any disease outbreaks and provide primary care to the people,” she said.
While victims of the flood continue to receive country-wide support, victims have humbly told visitors and journalists that they need more help. Thus, individuals, civil society, religious organizations, the international donor community, corporate Ghana are still entreated to continue to support the residents in the affected areas with essential life goods and services.
However, reports indicate that the water levels are receding, giving residents a glimpse of hope.
READ ALSO: Road Contract Scandal: Onus Probandi, Kickbacks And Kickfronts
