Accra, July 18, GNA - Government must develop a compensation policy for communities affected by the construction of national projects, Mr James Avedzi, MP for Ketu North said in Parliament on Wednesday. He held that it was injustice for the entire nation to benefit from such projects without any national compensation to the people who were immediately affected.

Mr Avedzi made the call in a contribution to a statement made by Mr David Assumeng (NDC-Shai- Osudoku) on the need to pay appropriate compensation to communities at the Lower Volta basin, whose livelihood were hindered as a result of the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong hydro-electric dams.

Mr Assumeng expressed regret about the negative consequences of the project on the economic activities of the people and called on the Government to initiate a move to identify the direct victims and pay them appropriate compensation.

The Lower Volta Basin stretches from Natriku in the Osudoku traditional area to the Volta Estuary at Ada Foah. The MP said the creation of these facilities have affected the free flow of the Volta river and therefore restrained the breeding of clams or oyster, a major livelihood of the people.

According to Mr Assumeng, the most affected communities are the Osudoku and Shai areas in the Dangme West and East Districts, the North and South Tongu Districts, as well as the Anlo areas. As a result of the construction of the dam and the consequent decline in economic activities, the people are suffering from malnutrition, bilharzias and malaria, he said.

Besides, the river had also become shallow due to silt and the situation is impacting negatively on river transportation, he added. Mr Samuel Obodai (NPP-Agona West) said it was time Government paid compensation to the affected people.

Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo (NDC-Ada) called on Government to take steps to develop alternate economic interventions to reduce the dependency on the Volta Lake.