Approximately 300 individuals affected by the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams have been relocated to fully-furnished quarters, according to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu through the Safe Alternative Housing Project.

The project was undertaken by Construction Ambassadors of the First Sky Group for the building. On October 24, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, cut sod for the construction of a First Sky Group housing project to relocate 12,000 individuals in the constituency who have been displaced owing to flooding by the spillage of the Akosombo dam.

The relocation comes after the affected group had been residing temporarily at St. Kizito SHS. Mr Ablakwa emphasized that the furnished quarters, though temporary, will enable the schools to resume its original function and offer constituents a decent living space until they can return to their homes.

Additionally, residents will not be required to pay rent or utility fees during their stay in the temporary accommodation.

Mr Ablakwa communicated this information via a post on X on December 9, 2023.

The spilling of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Hydro Dams commenced on September 15 due to rising water levels. Several weeks into the spillage, numerous residents in the Lower Volta Basin suffered the loss of their homes and farmlands due to the resultant floods. A total of nine districts were affected by this event.

Heartbreaking stories emerged from the South, Central, and North Tongu districts of the Volta Region, where the devastation was particularly severe. Communities such as Battor, Tefle, Mepe, Sogakope, Adidome, and Anlo found themselves submerged under water. According to the National Disaster Management Organisation (NaDMO), over 26,000 people were displaced and left homeless.

In response, various institutions and individuals stepped forward to provide relief items to the affected residents. Prominent political figures, including President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahama Bawumia, visited the impacted communities. Both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) leadership and the Minority caucus extended their assistance to the flood victims.

“The Volta River Authority (VRA) wishes to inform the public, particularly residents living along the Lower Volta River and its environs that the controlled spillage from the Akosombo dam, which began on September 15, 2023, has ended,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has indicated that an amount of GHC220 million has been allocated by the government to support the many families and communities affected by the Akosombo dam spillage.

He made this known when he presented the 2024 budget statement in Parliament.