2,000 Mepe Flood Victims Still Not Compensated, Eleven Months After Akosombo Dam Spillage
They lamented that thousands of houses and crops including animals and livestock had been destroyed in Mepe, after the surge of water from the dam but the government has still not compensated the floods victims who are still in pains for destruction of their livelihoods and valuable properties.
Freeman Koryekpor 
THE Chiefs and people of Mepe Traditional Area
in the North District of the Volta Region are
calling on the Volta River Authority (VRA) to impress upon the central government to consider compensating thousands of people displayed in Mepe during spillage of excess water from the Akosombo dam.
They lamented that thousands of houses and crops including animals and livestock had been destroyed in Mepe, after the surge of water from the dam but the government has still not compensated the floods victims who are still in pains for destruction of their livelihoods and valuable properties.
"Eleven months which from September 15, 2023, after the Volta River Authority’s (VRA) water spillage from the Akosombo Dam, the humanitarian crisis in Degorme, Mepe, is escalating, with over 2,000 flood victims still languishing in makeshift tents.
"We are calling for urgent government intervention as their living conditions continue to deteriorate. Our people are still reeling under the impact of the Akosombo dam flood disaster. But, like the phoenix, we shall rise from these ashes of destruction and shine again."Even though we are still in pain, we will celebrate this year’s Afenortoza like never before," the chiefs and people stated.
The Chairman of the Mepe Development Association (MDA), Mr Fabian Kojo Ellenu,
on behalf of the chiefs and people in the area made these remarks at the media launch of the 68th Mepe Afenorto Festival at the Ghana National Teachers (GNAT) Hall in Accra on Friday July 19, 2024.
The ceremony was well-attended by high-profile dignitaries, including heads of corporate institutions, among others.
The theme for the 2024 Afenortoza is “Rebuilding and Sustainability of Mepe; Post Akosombo Flood Disaster,” and it is scheduled to commence on the last Friday of this month, with the grand durbar slated for Saturday August 10, 202.
Mr Ellenu disclosed that the objective for the media launch was to bring to the doorstep of the people of Ghana and the outside world the uniqueness of the Mepe Afenorto Festival.
Mr Elenu that the traditional practices celebrated by the people for the past 68 years have been done in the spirit of peace and oneness.
“It is also aimed building the right relationships with the media fraternity in order to reach out to government, industries, business communities and the general public in order to establish
the appropriate partnership for social and economic development of the Mepe Traditional Area,” the chairman stated.
He said that the theme for the 2024 Afenortoza: “Rebuilding and Sustainability of Mepe; Post Akosombo Flood Disaster,” was carefully chosen to reflect our focus on bringing back life to Mepe, protecting us and other communities living along the Lower Volta from being ever flooded by any future spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.
According to him, this will require the state to collaborate with the Chiefs and leadership of affected communities, State Agencies, Ministries and Assemblies with oversight responsibilities, Members of Parliament, development partners, among other key stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the spillage of excess water from Akosombo dam.
He indicated that the MDA deplores the lackadaisical response by the State and
its assigned agencies and bodies to the devastation and turmoil caused by the floods to the people of the Mepe Traditional Area, the epicenter of the disaster, and by extension, other communities affected by the flood disaster.
"Almost a year into the painful fallouts of the disaster, he indicated that the commitment of the State to restoring the lives of the many thousands that have lost their farmlands, homes, businesses and other forms of livelihoods during the Akosombo flood disaster is nothing to write home about.
"In the throes of the flood disaster, he pointed out that the MDA has issued seven (7) press releases and arranged over 70 speaking engagements with both the local and foreign media to highlight the plight of displaced persons, state the true facts of the disaster and also pressed home support for the community, particularly women and children.
In the wake of flood disaster, he added that the MDA arranged seven (7) safe havens at St. Kizito Secondary Technical School, Mepe Roman Catholic Primary, Roman Catholic Junior High School, Holy Christ D.A. School, Mepe Presby Primary, and D.A JHS to evacuate over 2,000 displaced persons.
According to him, the MDA has facilitated the reopening of schools for children in eight (8) schools in the community through MDA’s relocation of over 400 displaced persons from classrooms used as haven during the flood disaster to a newly-created camp at Degorme through communal labour.
He stated that Association has engaged the Ghana Health Service and facilitated the construction of the Mepe Health Center with support from the Citi Foundation (Citi FM/ChannelOne TV) and the Ghana Chamber of Mines.
He asserted that the MDA has appealed for sponsorship from the Ghana Chamber of Mines and funding approval granted for the construction of two 10-units of toilet facilities.
"We have formed a Central Committee with representation from the five (5) divisions/ clans, retirees, women groups, churches, etc., which distributed relief items received by the MDA to over 5,000 households, the seven (7) safe havens and other effected villages under the Mepe Traditional Area.
"The MDA has records of all donations and reliefs items received on behalf of the community and all beneficiary individuals and households.
"On behalf of the Chiefs and people of the Mepe Traditional Area, the MDA would like
to extend its profound appreciation to individuals, MPs, companies, NGOs, CSOs, institutions, associations and to everyone who contributed in diverse to support our community and displaced persons during the height of the disaster," he stated.
The chairman of the MDA thanked all the volunteers and the various committees set up by the MDA to advance the cause of the community during this painful moment of our history.
He, however, opined that there is the need to protect the youth from the manipulations of politicians and political parties who use them to cause mayhem; rather, they should be empowered and equipped with education and training in order to make them independent of the rich and privileged few who abuse their dependency.
Mr. Ellenu also advised the youth to strive to preserve their conscience, guard their future and forcefully ward off any attempt by the powers that be.
“Instead, they should concentrate on using their God-given talents to the benefit of their communities and the nation at large,” he underscored.
