The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has lauded Unilever Ghana Plc for showing care to victims of the flood caused by the Akosombo Dam spillage.

He commended the company for being with the people through thick and thin and being compassionate during the flood disaster.   

Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa disclosed this to Joy FM when Unilever Ghana Plc donated a truckload of relief items to the victims.

“We are grateful to Unilever Ghana for this kind gesture and will always remember the company for being there in our time of need and when we needed them the most, they did not hesitate”

“You know water is cut and it’s difficult to have access to potable water. The river level rose so high and entered areas largely considered unwholesome despite serving the domestic needs of the people.

"These water purifiers and tanks will go a long way to keep our people healthy and alive,” he continued.

The MP expressed gratitude on behalf of the entire district, chiefs, coordinated response team, DCE, NADMO and others.

North Tongu district is considered the worst-hit district following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam on September 15, 2023.

Sixty-nine communities in the district have been affected by the flood displacing over 12,000 people with over a third currently being housed at a number of safe havens in the area including Mepe St. Kizito Senior Technical School.

Beyond the efforts of government, corporate bodies, organisations and individuals are lending a helping hand to ensure life continues for the people in distress.

In line with this, Unilever Ghana has donated relief items including soaps, water tanks, water purifiers, salt, toothpaste and branded T-shirts among other items to the victims.

Communications and Sustainability Manager of Unilever Ghana, Henry Malm said, the donation is towards the general wellbeing, health, hygiene and confidence of the victims.

“Unilever is very deliberate about wellbeing, health, hygiene and confidence. We have donated salt, water purification machines, and water tanks aside a bucket list of items as our widow’s mite.”

Considering the scale of the disaster, Unilever Ghana as a good corporate citizen sees the need to make an intervention to help put smiles on the faces of those in distress by maintaining and improving the health and hygiene of victims to stay alive.

“We want victims to experience the benefits of the products have donated. Our truckload of donations might not be enough to attend to all needs of the thousands of victims but will be enough to take care of some of them in the area of health, hygiene and all,” Mr Malm added.

For District Chief Executive of North Tongu, Divine Osborn Fenu, the items couldn’t have come at a better time.

“We thank you for donating these tanks and other assorted items and will ensure that the victims benefit from them. There is a common trend of water challenges, a need for mattresses, food and anything a displaced person might need. Supplying their needs will give them a bit of comfort,” he indicated.

“In the area of health, the health directorate with the support of Ghana Health Service and the MP brought in medical staff of the Ghana Medical Association to put up mobile clinics to attend to the victims. An isolation centre has also been created at the Battor Catholic Hospital for those who have to be isolated,” Mr Fenu said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of National Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO) Seji Saji dispelled the notion that the organisation is never prepared with resources to help in situations such as this.

“We do our assessment as the challenges come up, we proffer solutions and call on duty-bearers who can solve those problems as we are mandated to do. We do not have all the expertise in the organization with a responsibility to coordinate the response of both state and non-state agencies like Unilever Ghana Plc”

He expressed gratitude to Unilever Ghana Plc and prayed the company would be able to replicate same in other affected areas.

According to him, although water levels may be dropping, houses submerged might not be habitable immediately as relief administration will have to continue.

The truckload of relief items was later offloaded at the NADMO warehouse for onward distribution to the victims.

The journey from Tema to Mepe for the donation wasn’t a smooth one for Unilever Ghana as the team had to change their vehicle in the course of the trip.

Despite having experienced a vehicle breakdown, delays and other hitches along the journey, the team was eager to get the job done in order to put smiles on the faces of the victims.