Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, has expressed outrage over the government’s prolonged failure to assist individuals affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage.
Despite the disaster occurring almost a year ago, many affected persons remain in camps without receiving compensation or necessary support to resume their lives.
Addressing a stakeholder public hearing, Ablakwa revealed that over 1,300 affected persons still live in camps, criticising the government’s approach as inadequate.
He highlighted the government’s inter-ministerial committee’s failure to engage with MPs from impacted areas, despite being established to address the issue.
“You heard the government set up a 30-member committee. We are the inter-ministerial committee. To be very honest with you, we are very disappointed that that committee has not met us even once. I mean, a lot of the members, we are in parliament with them. I would have thought that even if it’s parliament, we can meet here.”
“We can even meet at the cafeteria, even over coffee that, oh, share data with us or tell us what is happening. You know, not one meeting, not so, we don’t know if it was just maybe an announcement for the public for some cosmetic reason, but we don’t know.
The chiefs time without a number, they will even call us. You are in parliament with them. When is the committee coming? and we can’t provide answers because we are not, we haven’t been engaged.”