The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has welcomed government’s GH₵220 million cedis relief fund for persons affected by the Akosombo Dam Spillage.

Mr. Ablakwa says he is cautiously optimistic about the government’s plans to provide relief for persons affected by the Akosombo Dam Spillage.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced a package to acquire additional items for the victims during the 2024 budget presentation on Wednesday, November 15.

“The government has budgeted an amount of 220 million to support the relief place for the community affected by the Akosombo spillage as well as floods upstream in the Oti, Savannah, and Bono East region”.  

The Member of Parliament has expressed excitement although measured in his expectations.

“I want to believe strongly that those consultations played a significant role in what has commutated in these budgetary allocations but I continue to be cautiously optimized because I know that there is a world of difference between a politician and actual release and then for the resettlement and compensation. I must emphasize that data is still being collected we are still accessing the full range of the devastation and levels of impact,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has criticised the Akufo-Addo Government's 2024 Budget statement, describing it as hollow.

The Leader of the NDC MPs also predicted that it would worsen the challenges faced by Ghanaians.

Following Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta's presentation of the budget in Parliament on Wednesday, November 15, Dr Ato Forson warned that Ghanaians should prepare for increased hardships, asserting that the Akufo-Addo administration will leave the country with a financially unstable economy.

“This budget is what we describe clearly as an empty budget. Mr Speaker, the government will be leaving behind a bankrupt economy. The government will be leaving the country in an ‘ahokyere’ (hardship) state.”