The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Volta Region has expressed skepticism over Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Ata’s recent announcement that government had allocated GHS220 Million as relief for victims of the Akosombo and Kpong dam spillage in the 2024 Budget.

Reading the 2023 Budget statement in Parliament on Wednesday, 15 November 2023, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta revealed government has allocated GHS220 million as relief to support the victims of the spillage.

Reacting to this, in a statement issued on Friday, 17 November 2023, signed by its Communications Officer, Sorkpa Kafui Agbleze, the Volta Regional NDC, noted though it acknowledges the “urgency and necessity of aiding” communities affected by the disaster, it remains “highly apprehensive and uncertain about the Government's ability to fulfill yet another promise.”

According to the Volta Regional NDC, “the Finance Minister's track record in meeting financial commitments has always raised questions among the discerning public, and this new pledge only adds to the growing list of such unfulfilled assurances,” stressing  the “failed promise, captured in the 2022 Budget, to make available some GHS 10 million to ameliorate the plight of residents of Anlo, Keta and Ketu South Municipalities which have and are still reeling under the havoc of the perennial tidal waves, is still fresh on the minds of the people.”

It however commended government for the submission of a document to the International Development Association (IDA) to enable it access some funding from the Crisis Response Window from the World Bank. 

“We however condemn the Finance Minister's failure to inform Ghanaians about the actual amount Government intends to access and the timeline to expect such funding,” the Volta Regional NDC stated.

The Volta Regional NDC also stressed it would be “very heartless for the victims of the disaster to wait till next year for their resettlement to commence, especially when it is not clear when Government will access funds from the Crisis Response Window from the World Bank.”

It thus entreated government to use money from the Contingency Fund to commence the relief process of “resettlement and restoration of livelihood to these victims.”