Former President John Dramani Mahama has urged the government to take swift and decisive action in addressing the extensive flooding affecting three constituencies in the Volta Region.

The Volta River Authority's (VRA) decision to release surplus water from the Akosombo Dam, a measure aimed at preventing a potential dam collapse has led to flooding in several areas in the Tongu districts and other areas.

Following his visit to the affected areas, Mr Mahama expressed his concerns to the media, characterizing the government's response as somewhat lackadaisical.

He emphasized that his visit aimed to highlight the urgent need for the government to take immediate action.

“I think that this visit will let government and whole of Ghana see what is happening, it is not just a story which is being told by people, it is the reality of people’s lives following spillage of the Akosombo Dam."

“It happens once in a while not every year, it is an effect of climate change… we have to see how to adapt. I think that the approach has been a bit lackadaisical, actually that is why I came, so that it will let them see that this is real. Sometimes, if you read in the media, you think that this isn’t real,” he said.

Meanwhile, the government has formed an inter-ministerial committee to tackle the recent floods resulting from the discharge of water from the Volta and Kpong Dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA).

An October 13 statement from the Ministry of Information said, president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo had ordered the setting-up of the team to “coordinate government’s response to the unfortunate flooding of some communities following spilling from the Volta Dam.”

The thirteen-member committee will be headed by Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare.

The other members of the committee include the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah; Minister for the Interior, Ambrose Dery; Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul; Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh; Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of Local Government, Daniel Kwaku Botwe.

Other members are Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye; Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, Minister for Environment, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie; Minister for Sanitation, Freda Prempeh; Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor and the Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

On the other hand, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the VRA to reduce the discharge of water from the Akosombo Dam. His primary concern is to ensure the safe evacuation of all residents affected by the flooding.

Mr Ablakwa has expressed his deep concerns about the devastating impact of the discharge and has requested immediate relief supplies for the affected individuals.