The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has denied reports claiming that military personnel deployed to Mepe for humanitarian relief operations following the spillage of the Akosombo Dam have been withdrawn.
According to GAF, the information is inaccurate.
GAF’s reaction follows some reports suggesting that soldiers deployed to support flood victims had left their posts.
This was after the MP for North Tongue, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, indicated that the soldiers had been asked to leave the community.
In a post on X, the MP questioned who in authority had given the military orders to withdraw.
Who “above” has given orders to the military detachment helping us cross flood waters to immediately withdraw when the water levels haven’t receded and when thousands of lives are at stake in camps across these waters?
Who in government is behind this utter cruelty? pic.twitter.com/yTgKB5u36V
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 22, 2023
In another tweet, the MP said the order had been reversed, describing the culprits as “unpatriotic”. “Soon, we shall fish out those faceless, unpatriotic elements,” he added.
I just received a call indicating that the order has been reversed and that the soldiers have been directed to return with their boats and resume duty.
Soon, we shall fish out those faceless, unpatriotic elements.
— Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa (@S_OkudzetoAblak) October 22, 2023
However, in a statement, the GAF explained that the humanitarian operations being conducted are in phases, adding that the Mepe situation is under control and, as such, the redeployment
“As of 22 October 2023, the situation in Mepe has been brought under considerable control, and therefore it became necessary to urgently redeploy some personnel and equipment to other distressed communities around Battor and its environs, which were in dire need of support,” the statement signed by Director General in charge of Public Relations, M.A Larbi Naval Captain, said.
Meanwhile, government has reiterated its focus on supporting victims affected by the dam spillage.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said that centres have been established to accommodate victims.
In an interview with the media on Sunday, October 22, the MP for Ofoase Ayirebi said, “the focus is to ensure that the people who have been relocated to these twenty centres are supported with the necessary food, sleeping materials, healthcare, etc. so that their situation does not become more precarious than it is now and then subsequent to that, when the water levels recede, to assist them to go back to their communities.”
