The DCE for Pru East, Adam Abdulai says the assembly is working to relocate residents affected by the flood waters from the Akosombo Dam spillage and heavy rains within the area.

According to Mr. Abdulai, this will help prevent properties and lives from being at risk in future.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, the DCE said he has initiated talks with the chiefs and elders of the land currently serving as shelter grounds for the victims so they don’t go back to their former settlements.

“Fortunately for us, we have gotten a place but it is a temporal place for them.

"This year has been worse than ever so this is the time to look at how we will deal with it in the future. This is why we are looking at evacuating them completely from that place (old settlement) because we think that it will reoccur. But I think we need to engage more so that we can look at how we can deal with this thing.

Read also: Offer Saglemi Housing Project to Akosombo Dam-induced flood victims – CSOs to Akufo-Addo

"I think it is a good call for us to sit down, all stakeholders of this community.

"I have started and that is why I have gone to see Nananom and I have told them that I don’t think that place is a good place for them to be. If even the situation stops, they shouldn’t go back there and Nananom have also bought into the idea, so we have started at that level.”

Already, there are calls for government to declare a state of emergency in areas ravaged by floods from the spillage of the Akosombo Dam.

Areas such as Pru East, Anloga, Sogakope, and Mepe, among others, have been submerged by floodwaters, displacing thousands.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, the flagbearer of the NDC, former President John Mahama joined this call by stating that “It is clear that the scope and scale of the flooding of communities along the Volta River is bigger than our crippled economy can bear.

“I recommend to Government to declare a State of Emergency in the affected areas and request relief assistance from our bilateral and multilateral partners immediately.”

Others such as the Alliance of Feminists Civil Societies Organisations (AFCSOs) are also urging the President to as a matter of urgency consider relocating the flood victims to the Saglemi Housing Project.

But addressing the needs of the victims in Pru East, the DCE said measures have been initiated to ensure the people are completely relocated to higher grounds.

Also read: Akosombo Dam spillage: Akufo-Addo assures victims of needed support

Mr. Abdulai called on philanthropists and corporate Ghana to come to their aid so as to fast track the process.

“We have even sent a team of physical planners to go and design the place which they have done.

"That is why we are calling on well wishers and those who have something in their hands to come to our aid. If they are to be there permanently then we need to complete talks with Nananom  because I don’t think the place will be given to us for free.

"So that at the higher level the situation of the spillage will be looked at but at my level here we are talking about completely taking them from that place so that the situation will not occur again in future because it has been happening.

"But this time, it has overwhelmed us,” he added.

Background   

On September 15, 2023, the Volta River Authority started a controlled spill from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams. 

This was due to the heavy rainfall in the Volta River catchment, resulting in a fast rise in the water level at the Akosombo Dam.  

The spill was, therefore, necessary to prevent the overtopping of the dam and to protect the dam’s integrity.

However, by the beginning of October, the water level was still rising rapidly, exceeding the maximum operating level of 276 feet. 

Following persistent rains and a continued rise in the water level, VRA increased the spill rate from October 9, 2023.

This resulted in increased flooding in a number of communities in the North, South and Central Tongu Districts, as well as Ada East and Pru East Districts.