Akosombo Dam Spillage report: Ablakwa is extremely busy – Ing. Koffi on why MP was not interviewed

Chairman of the Akosombo Dam Spillage Committee, Ing. Kirk Koffi has explained why North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa was not interviewed as part of fact-finding into the Akosombo Dam spillage.

The MP’s area North Tongu together with Central Tongu, South Tongu, Ada and Kpong jurisdictions were identified as the worst-affected areas by the Akosombo Dam spillage.

The floods destroyed structures, with an estimated 1,247 homes, 94 schools and 17 health facilities brought down by the waters, as economic losses are projected at $78 million in agricultural damage alone.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues, Sunday, May 11, 2025, Ingineer Koffi noted that the Foreign Affairs Minister had busy schedules which made him difficult to reach for interview as part of information gathering by the Committee.

Read also: Akosombo Dam spillage: Going forward an L.I would be needed to protect flood zones – Ing Kirk Koffi

However, he said Assembly members, Chiefs and traditional leaders as well as people of North Tongu were interviewed and gave comprehensive accounts which he believed was enough for the report to be published in the absence of the North Tongu MP.

“But unfortunately, currently you know he is the Foreign Affairs Minister extremely busy and it was difficult to get hold of him but then we had gotten a lot of input.

“I must say his place, the North Tongu gave us one of the best reports and I believe the Minister was involved from the Assembly to the Chief and we had a good meeting the North Tongu people.

“They gave us a comprehensive report in terms of the people who were affected, people who had to be compensated and whatever.

“Even though we could not meet him directly, we met his people, the Assemblymen, everybody and I thought if we couldn’t meet him because of his duties that was enough for us to be able to come up with our report,” he stated.

Ingineer Koffi further commended Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa for his good works and contributions to help victims of the spillage.

“Honourable Ablakwa did a Yeo man’s job, everywhere I go I did commend him,” he added.

A five-member committee tasked by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor to investigate the circumstances leading to the spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam, has asserted that the exercise was a necessary evil.

This is among other findings made by the committee in a 126-page report submitted to the Minister on May 7.

“The spillage was primarily caused by releasing approximately 8 MAF volumes of water from the Akosombo Dam to prevent the dam’s destruction (overtopping) due to high reservoir water levels. Other contributing factors included unprecedented rainfall due to climate change and human activities exacerbating flood risks. Breaching the dam could have resulted in a catastrophic chain of events in the country,” a portion of the report signed by Chairman of the Committee, Ing. Kirk Koffi reads.

“While there were efforts to provide immediate assistance, gaps in communication, resource allocation, and community engagement were identified,” the report further revealed.

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