The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has urged the government to take urgent action to replace all lost national identity cards, passports, and other essential documents of victims affected by the Akosombo dam spillage.
Ablakwa emphasized the humanitarian necessity of replacing identity documents such as birth certificates, health insurance cards, voter ID cards, passports, and Ghana cards for individuals impacted by the spillage. He argued that this measure would alleviate their plight significantly.
During his address on the floor of Parliament, Ablakwa stated, “I'm calling on the government to replace thousands of lost Ghana Cards, Health Insurance Card, Voter ID Cards, Birth Certificates, and Passports. For victims of far-reaching catastrophic consequences of the September 5, 2023 spillage, from the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority.”
He further emphasized the need for relevant public institutions to conduct a special and comprehensive exercise in all affected constituencies to facilitate the immediate replacement of these crucial documents.
Ablakwa expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their support in assisting the victims during this challenging time.
Responding to Ablakwa's call, Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin suggested that the request be directed to the appropriate institutions responsible for document issuance, such as the Electoral Commission and the National Health Insurance Authority. He emphasized the importance of moving beyond verbal discussions in Parliament and taking practical steps to address the issue.
“The call should be made to the EC, National Health Insurance Authority, and others. We cannot narrow everything to the government, and we may not be getting the solution. Let's move from our offices beyond the talk on the floor of the house and move there, they are our colleagues. Let's direct this appropriately so that we get solutions,” Afenyo-Markin remarked.
Ablakwa's appeal underscores the critical need for swift action to support individuals affected by the Akosombo dam spillage in recovering essential documents vital for their daily lives and official transactions.