Parliament will summon the management of the Volta River Authority (VRA) over the recent flood disaster caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage.
This was disclosed by the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Hon Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, during a briefing with the Parliamentary Press Corps on Tuesday, October 31, when the House resumed for the third session of the eighth Parliament.
During the briefing, the Majority leader expressed empathy for the victims and emphasized the importance of understanding the cause of the spillage to prevent future disasters.
He indicated that they will engage with the Speaker to determine how the House can best support the victims.
“A briefing from the VRA is essential to guide their efforts and prevent such incidents in the future,” he said but did not specify a date for the appearance of the VRA management before the Parliament.
However, on the floor of the Chamber, Minority leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, called for a parliamentary inquiry into the Akosombo Dam spillage disaster and the widespread damage and displacement it caused in several regions of the country.
According to him, the government and VRA failed to provide adequate emergency response and disaster relief to the affected communities.
The Minority Caucus, he said, will present a motion to demand a parliamentary inquiry into the circumstances that led to the disaster and hold those responsible accountable.
Speaker of the House, Alban Bagbin, agreed to the calls by the two leaders and stressed it is unacceptable that an activity as potentially destructive as dam spillage was done without a well-thought-through security and safety preparedness plan.
He assured that Parliament will take the necessary action to inquire into the matter and make recommendations for the protection of property and lives.
He also emphasized that this is a national assignment and urged members of Parliament to lead in finding solutions to this perennial problem.