By Michael Foli Jackidy, GNA
Tongu (V/R), April 01, GNA – Togbe Komla Sakpiti V, Chief of Bakpa Awadiwoekome, has called for an immediate resettlement of flood victims in the Tongu enclave who were displaced as a result of the Akosombo dam spillage.
Nearly three years after the September–October 2023 spillage of the Akosombo Dam, devastated communities across the Tongu enclave and many affected families are still without permanent shelter.
Displaced residents continue to live in makeshift tents or rely on relatives, as a long-promised resettlement programme remains unfulfilled.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Togbe Sakpiti V said the floods displaced thousands of people across North, Central, and South Tongu, destroying homes, farmlands, and health facilities.
He explained that the successive government announced interventions, including the establishment of committees and funding arrangements.
“A resettlement panel formed under the previous administration was later dissolved during the 2024 political transition and subsequently reconstituted by the current NDC government, he noted.
He said his concern goes beyond infrastructure to the social strain on his people; families split between camps and host homes, eroding trust in official assurances, and a growing sense of uncertainty among the youth.
Togbe Sakpiti V said he was faced with mounting pressure from youth groups and families seeking clarity, as many continued to endure harsh living conditions, sleeping under leaking tarpaulins and relying on unsafe water sources.
Many remain in temporary shelters like classrooms and tents, with limited access to healthcare and no structured livelihood support.
Togbe Sakpiti V noted that the absence of a clear implementation timeline and a transparent beneficiary register have further deepened the frustration among residents.
“With the rainy season approaching and warnings from the Volta River Authority about possible future controlled spillages, there is the need to immediately resolve this problem.”
He urged authorities to provide a comprehensive public update, publish a verified list of beneficiaries, and commence visible construction works within affected communities such as Bakpa Awadiwoekome.
Some residents, the GNA spoke to said little progress had been made and “We don’t know whether to rebuild or keep waiting,” an elder in Awadiwoekome lamented.
Communities such as Degorme, Aveyime, and surrounding island settlements still host hundreds of displaced persons, including pregnant women, children, and fishermen who lost their livelihoods.
For now, many residents remain in limbo, navigating daily life between temporary shelters and the goodwill of relatives, while their chief continues to balance tradition with growing demands for accountability and action.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Linda Asante Agyei