Supporting flood victims: Govt alone can’t do it; support relief efforts – Assemblies of God tells all Ghanaians

The Assemblies of God Church has appealed to all Ghanaians to support the efforts by the government to bring relief to the people who have been affected by the floods occasioned by the Akosombo Dam spillage.

The Church believes that the government and government agencies alone cannot do it hence the need for all to support.

Addressing journalists in Accra on Tuesday, October 17, the General Overseer of the Assemblies of God Church, Rev Stephen Wengam said “The sad reality is that government and government agencies alone cannot shoulder the huge burden of bringing relief and hope to the people due to the untold disaster. This is the time therefore for Ghanaians of all social backgrounds, financial standings, political affiliations, and extractions to rally to the aid of the suffering fathers, mothers, and children.

“Corporate Ghana and other benevolent bodies must also identify themselves with the humanitarian efforts while counselors and psychologist also do their best.”

He further called for a declaration of state of emergency in areas.

“The Assemblies of God Ghana fully backs calls for the declaration of a state of emergency in the flood-affected areas, this will help the necessary humanitarian measures being undertaken to bring the depressing situation under control.”

Communities including Mepe and Battor in the North Tongu Constituency have been severely hit by the flood occasioned by the spillage.

Spillage of water from the Akosombo dam is expected to continue until the excess inflows in the lake recede, according to the Volta River Authority (VRA).

President Nana Addo Danwa Akufo-Addo visited the flood areas and assured them of government support.

President Akufo-Addo, while interacting with the people of Mepe on Monday, October 16, indicated that he is president for all Ghanaians irrespective of whether or not they voted for him.

The President assured the chiefs and the people of Mepe and the other towns in the North, South, and Central Tongu areas in the Region, a stronghold of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), that the government is going to do whatever it can within its powers to alleviate their plight.

He said “When I took the oath of office as president I took the oath of office as president for every single individual in Ghana, of all the people in Ghana, all districts whether they voted for me or not, once I have taken the oath of office I am the president of all the people.

“So Togbe, you and your elders, I want you to understand that when something like this happens and the government acts government is acting for Ghanaians.

“I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help. If it is the question of counting who votes for me and who doesn’t vote for me  I shouldn’t be here because you don’t vote for me but that is not my concern. In any event one day, you will vote for me and my party.

“I came here this afternoon to express my sympathies and to commiserate with all the people in the Mepe area. I chose Mepe because this is the area that has been most affected.

“We have to also be very grateful for the work of VRA, the preparation they have been making over the years in such a situation, the simulation exercise, and all the things they have been doing to prepare for this including the sensitization. Because of the good that they have done up until now, by the grace of God,  not one single individual has lost his life in this crisis,” he said.

He stressed, “Whatever it is within the powers of the government that can be done to alleviate this situation, it is going to be done.”

The flooding has impacted education, health, mobility, shelter, and access to food for the children in the affected communities.