Security Consultant Col. Festus Aboagye has contended that people whose actions and inactions resulted in the devastations caused by the Akosombo Dam Spillage should not go unpunished.
Exactly a year ago, the Volta River Authority (VRA) embarked on what they describe as “controlled spillage” of the Akosombo Dam to safeguard the overflowing facility from collapse.
The spillage resulted in the destruction of businesses, livelihoods, and communities.
Due to the destruction, extra financial cost was incurred by the government to relocate and cater for the over 40,000 victims who were displaced at a time when the country was already experiencing economic distress under an IMF program.
As the country and the victims continue to reel under the economic and social impact of the spillage, with disrupted supply chains and damaged infrastructure, Col. Aboagye is demanding accountability from those responsible for preventing such disasters.
To mark the one-year anniversary of the spillage, Col. Festus Aboagye in a policy brief copied to The High Street Journal is demanding an independent probe to, among other things identify and sanction officials whose criminal negligence caused such a devastation.
This, the security consultant is convinced will serve as a deterrent to all officials who may want to engage in any of such negligence which can cost the country millions of cedis.
“The government should institute an independent probe to examine the circumstances, decisions, indecisions, and actions and inactions surrounding the spillage. The probe should target potential criminal negligence and liability against persons with responsibilities to prevent or manage such disasters to serve as a deterrent for such criminal negligence,” Col. Aboagye asserted.
Businesses in the affected communities were forced to halt operations due to power outages and flood damage, leading to the loss of millions. The spillage disrupted major supply routes, damaged agricultural land, and made some areas inaccessible, all of which severely impacted local economies.
Meanwhile, some of the victims are still living in the safe havens as the renovations of their homes by the government have been delayed.
