2024 budget: Finance Minister to consider long-term relief for victims of dam spillage

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has hinted that long-term relief for victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage will be considered in the preparation of the 2024 annual budget.

He said this to journalists after touring the areas affected by the flood in the North, South and Central Tongu constituencies, on Friday, October 27.

“We have mobilized a few things that we would like to share but I think we are also in the budget season and therefore it will not just be numbers that we are working on but true feelings in the field and therefore the need to look at these social interventions in a real way.

“We will certainly give this an expression immediately and also in the budget,” he stated.

He donated an amount of GHS2 million to support the victims of the flood that was caused by the spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam. He made the donation at the North Tongu District Assembly in Mepe.

The donation was received by the District Chief Executive Divine Osborne Fenu.

Mr. Ofori-Atta said, “Let us be encouraged. Ministry of Finance as a family is concerned about what has happened to our brothers and sisters. Working with the VRA, we have brought something enough- GHS2 million to be able to support the relief effort that is going on and to thank Ghanaians for the spontaneous response.”

He announced that long-term relief measures for the victims will be taken into consideration in the 2024 budget.

“I think we are also in the budget season and therefore it will not just be numbers that we are working on, but true feelings in the field and therefore the need to look at these social interventions in a real way. We will certainly give this an expression immediately and
also in the budget,” Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

Regarding the flood, Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Seji Saji Amedonu, earlier said that the water levels have started dropping.

He said that it would take one week to completely recede given the rate at which the water level is dropping.

Speaking on the mid-day news on TV3 on Wednesday, October 25, Mr Amedonu said “The water started receding about two days ago but there has been a significant drop in the level of the water especially those in the communities which is good news for us.

“What it is telling us is that we are beginning to see the start of the end of this. It might take some time but at the rate at which it is receding if it continues this way,  I am very confident that in about a week or so, we will not have that level of water in the communities again.

“Even if this water completely recedes some works have to be done before the people can move back into those buildings because the level of contamination of that water is quite high.”

Flood displaced residents sleeping in schools and makeshift structures will have to endure a bit longer.

This is because the government is yet to make a decision on whether or not to relocate those affected permanently or put up more robust shelters to accommodate them.

Over the past two weeks, victims of the flood caused by the spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams have called for government and donor assistance in resettlement efforts, amidst proposals by the Minority in Parliament for the relocation of the victims to the stalled Saglemi housing project.

Deputy Minister for Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, at a media briefing however indicated that tests are being conducted to determine if the affected areas are conducive enough for resettlement.

“People are there testing the water to see whether the places affected are still habitable. It is that information that will inform some decisions by the committee.”

source:Fiilafmonline/3Buss