Akosombo Dam spillage: Tempers high as MPs fight over government’s response to disaster

Tempers were high in Parliament as NDC and NPP legislators verbally fought each other over government’s response to the devastating flooding caused by the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.

Microphones from both sides were on and no one could be clearly heard amid the chaos on the floor.

Earlier, Energy Minister Matthew Opoku Prempeh led the Senior Management of Volta River Authority (VRA) to brief Members of Parliament on the spillage.

The Minister rejected claims that the VRA mishandled the situation arguing enough sensitization was carried out and there would have been serious damage to the Akosombo Dam if the spillage was not carried through.

“If the VRA had not been proactive in spilling this year, the water coming into the reservoir would have overtopped Akosombo Dam, which would have had an unimaginable catastrophic impact on the people,” he said on Wednesday, November 8.

But the Minority rejected the claims. The NDC side’s spokesperson on Mines and Energy, John Jinapor described the conduct of the VRA as irresponsible.

“I never heard of any simulation, and I never witnessed any simulation. In any case, when you knew you were going to spill the Dam, did you create any safe haven for them, with towns where those safe havens were created because what you do is, once you going to spill a Dam, you create a safe haven so that when people are affected they can move to those areas. MPs have had to allocate schools for people to go and stay there, Mr Speaker this is a serious issue,” he added.

But NPP MP for Tema West Carlos Ahenkorah would have none of that.

According to him, no one can fault the VRA for the spillage of the dam.

Source: Ghana News