A recent assessment of the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillages that affected eight districts in Ghana reveals the gaps the government needs to urgently close to provide succour to those affected by the flooding.
Development Diaries reports that an estimated GH¢1.6bn worth of agricultural livelihoods were lost due to the dam spillage, according to an assessment carried out by a Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) consultant, Stephen Frimpong.
Recall that communities in the Volta area of the country experienced severe flooding after the Akosombo and Kpong dams had spillages that affected nearly 48,000 people.
The spillages caused direct damage to crops, livestock, forestry, aquaculture and fisheries of the people in the downstream communities.
This has left an agricultural livelihood gap of over GH¢1.6bn to be filled by the government and its development partners.
Agriculture is the backbone of the Ghanaian economy. It is Ghana’s most important economic sector, employing more than half of the population on a formal and informal basis.
This sector is also expected to account for a substantial part of Ghana’s gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign exchange earnings, although this is not the case
This makes it crucial for the government to urgently respond to the gap left behind by the floods caused by the dam spillages.
It is also paramount that the government provides relief and assistance to the families and communities affected by the flooding.
Development Diaries calls on the Ghanaian government to put measures in place to prevent future dam spillages and floods from happening.
Photo source: Ghana News Agency
