The 121-page book touches on pertinent issues confronting the people near the two major hydroelectric dams; Akosombo and Kpong. For ages now, the people within the Dam catchment areas have been saddled with certain setbacks.
Notable among the setbacks are the poor and porous roads linking Akuse-Amedeka and the entire Lower Volta Basin, poverty and contaminated streams which according to the Author of the book was uncharacteristic of the community.
Ebenezer Dzabaku, the Author of “The Volta River”, explained that in 1967, the Lower Volta Basin played a significant role in presenting large-scale agricultural opportunities for the people but current scrutiny of the place has proven otherwise.
Addressing an audience at the Ebenezer Presbyterian auditorium, Ebenezer Dzabaku said bringing to bear the challenges confronting the residents of Akuse-Amedeka for prompt resolution inspired him to write the book.
“The Volta River; Electric Power Generation and Poverty at the Crossroads” is the maiden edition of Ebenezer Dzabaku’s writings which outlines the economic potentials of the Lower Volta Basin areas amidst other problems which must be addressed.
The event commenced at 5:10pm amidst cultural displays from the Borborbor cultural group and songs from the Osu Ebenezer Melody.
The Author of the book stressed that operations by the workers of the Akosombo and Kpong dams are detrimental to the community since spillage from the dams has rendered their streams unsafe to drink. He said the activities of the two dams have destroyed several fishing sites of the community.
He underscored the benefits of the Lower Volta Basin saying but for the emergence of the two dams, the Akuse-Amedeka and its environs would have served as tourist sites to attract investors into the vicinity.
Ebenezer Dzabaku indicated that over 18000 fishermen across Akuse-Amedeka were endangered due to the harmful activities of the Kpong hydroelectric dam. He further added that whilst the workers of the dams enjoy luxurious opportunities, the people of the Lower Volta Basin are left in a deplorable state.
He expressed his resentment over the actions by the administrators of the two dams and admonished the residents of Akuse-Amedeka to step up their game against the administrators who have since shown less efforts to develop the community.
“It is time that, we, the people of the Lower Volta Basin are going to get up but we are not going to get up rudely. And we will come and knock their doors, and we expect them to give us a handshake and turn their eyes towards the Lower Volta Basin.”, he said.
He dedicated the book to the first President of the republic of the Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and asked the authorities and government to take a cue from the selflessness of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
He appealed to the government to “think of the people and not the profits”.
The Minister of Tourism, Akua Sena Dansowah, also reiterated government’s commitment to helping the deprived areas of the Lower Volta Basin. According to her, her Ministry and government are aware of the plight of the inhabitants of Akuse-Amedeka and promised that government will soon come to their aid.
The first book was sold at GHC 200 and proceeds from the sales of the book will be used to establish the Lower Volta Basin Educational Fund which aims at addressing the socio-economic challenges of the people.
Present at the event were the Minister for Tourism, Akua Sena Dansowah, the Information and Publicity Officer of the Akuse Volta River Authority (VRA), John Chobbah, the Former National Youth Organizer of the Convention People’s Party, Francis Opai Tetteh among other dignitaries.
Story by Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/X fm 95.1/Accra/Ghana
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