The Ghana Armed Forces has denied wild claims by the Member of Parliament (MP) of North Tongue, Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa, and others, that the military has withdrawn its personnel from assisting the victims of the Akosombo Dam flood in Mepe, in the Volta Region.
In a press release dated 22 October 2023, (published) the military, which is assisting in transporting relief items to victim in the flooded areas stated that, “GAF wishes to categorically state that the information in circulation is inaccurate and that the personnel have not been given any ‘order from above’ to withdraw from Mepe or any other community affected by the spillage contrary to the social media post.”
GAF, however, explained that as of 22 October (Sunday), this year, when the claims of withdrawal were going viral, the situation in Mepe had been brought under considerable control and therefore became necessary to urgently redeploy some of the men and equipment to other distressed communities around Battor and its environs which were in dire need of support.
Following the deployment of the additional personnel and equipment, GAF stated, that the operations being conducted have been varied to suit the evolving situation.
The statement signed by Naval Captain Ma Larbi for the Director of the public relations assured that the GAF would not “relent in its quest to ensure urgent, equitable and appropriate response and support to all person and communities affected by the spillage and in conjunction with all stakeholders.”
Recall that yesterday, videos emerging from the community showing soldiers loading their canoes back onto trucks for transportation.
Victims of the crisis began to wonder how the relief items would manage to reach their campsites, including the St Kizito shelter where about 1,500 of them were camped.
Later, the MP for the area Twitted that he had been informed that the military were leaving the area to their base following a supposed order from above.
It is this twit that the GAF is denying as inaccurate.
The Mepe community is one of the eight districts hardest hit by the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority (VRA).
