Stephen Appiah has extended his support to the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage by making a generous donation.
Accompanied by Robert Coleman, the CEO of Wembley Sports Limited, and Nathaniel Attoh, a Joy Sports journalist, the ex-captain of the Black Stars visited Mepe to provide aid to the displaced families. The former footballer expressed his deep concern for the affected people and hoped for their speedy recovery from the devastating impact of the spillage.
“I don’t even know what to say. I am shocked with what I have seen this afternoon. I am even getting emotional,” Appiah told Joy Sports.
“I have been asking my self what if I was in the same situation with my family. I have been seeing pictures and we have been watching television. Being here is different, the feeling is different and I am so so sad,” he added.
Receiving the items on behalf of the people of Mepe was the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who expressed gratitude to Appiah and his friends.
“Thank you very much. On behalf of my people, we want to express our gratitude to you, the CEO of Wembley Sports and our icon, the legend Stephen Appiah. We are very grateful you have remembered us in this time of excruciating pain and difficulty. God bless you,” said the MP.
The flood known as the Akosombo Dam Spillage Flood occurred in the southeastern region of Ghana as a result of a deliberate release of water from both the Akosombo Dam and the Kpong Dam by the Volta River Authority.
This measure was taken in response to the escalating water levels caused by the effects of climate change. The Akosombo Dam, boasting a storage capacity of 150 billion cubic meters and a maximum operating level of 276 feet, faced the risk of failure if the water levels continued to rise unchecked.
To prevent such a catastrophe, the spillage exercise commenced on September 15, 2023, with a discharge rate of 183,000 cubic feet per second per day. However, due to the persistent rise in water levels, this discharge rate was subsequently increased on October 9, 2023.
As a consequence of the spillage, approximately 8,000 individuals residing in eight communities along the downstream of the Volta River were displaced, with Mepe being the most severely affected. Regrettably, the number of displaced individuals has since risen to 31,000 as of October 19, 2023.
