Member of Parliament (MP) for Ada, Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, has issued a heartfelt plea to her fellow parliamentarians, urging immediate support for the people affected by the recent Akosombo Dam spillage in her constituency.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Doyoe described the dire situation where students and residents are now forced to use contaminated river water for their daily needs.
Doyoe revealed that over 300 houses have been impacted by the spillage, leaving the community in a state of crisis.
The Ghana Water Company has shut down its facility due to the flooding, leaving Ada without access to clean water.
The Ada MP disclosed that the Deputy Clerk of Parliament, Ebenezer Ahumah-Djietro, visited the constituency and witnessed the severity of the situation firsthand.
“We are in danger. We need water,” Doyoe implored. “Students are helpless, and tragically, two have lost their lives. They lack water and food in their dormitories, forcing them to venture out in search of essentials, exposing themselves to danger.”
Doyoe appealed to the Volta River Authority (VRA) to dredge the river where students are fetching water and to smoothen the clayey banks to ensure their safety.
She called upon the House, National Security, and all Ghanaians to come to the aid of the affected constituents.
She specifically requested the deployment of water tankers to the three secondary schools in the area.
Members of Parliament acknowledged the gravity of the situation in Ada and emphasized the urgent need for the state to mobilize resources to assist the affected communities.
Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei Owusu, presiding over the session, acknowledged that support for spillage victims had primarily been directed towards specific communities in the Volta Region.
He urged the House leadership to develop a comprehensive plan of action to provide aid to all the communities along the Volta River, both upstream and downstream, affected by the spillage, citing examples such as Makango and Yeji.