After severe flooding in the Volta Region of Ghana at the end of 2023 displaced over 40,000 people, local government leaders expressed their appreciation to the Africa West Area presidency for the Church’s donations of food and emergency supplies.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, seven members of the Parliament of Ghana visited area offices in Accra to meet with area leaders and present a letter of appreciation, according to a news release published Tuesday from the Church’s Africa Newsroom. The seven leaders, representing the Volta Parliament Caucus, had all experienced flooding in their constituencies.
“You came so quickly with help, and as a result of that, many others were inspired to help because of your example,” said the Honorable Sammy Okudzeto Ablakwa, member of parliament for North Tongu. “When the story of this disaster is told, you will not be able to ignore the incredible and substantial contributions of your Church.”
Other visiting Members of Parliament included the Honorable Gabby Hottordze, Central Tongu; the Honorable Kobby Woyome, South Tongu; the Honorable Dzifa Gomashie, Ketu South; the Honorable Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpey, Keta; and the Honorable Peter Nortsu-Kotoe, Akatsi North.
These leaders met with members of the Africa West Area presidency — Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, Elder Jörg Klebingat and Elder Alfred Kyungu, all General Authority Seventies — along with other leaders from the area office.
“I was in despair, but you came through and gave me hope again,” said Gomashie, first-term Member of Parliament. “Your intervention held me up in my time of need.”
The year’s-end disastrous Akosombo Dam Spillage Flood was caused by increased rainfall rising the dam’s water levels. To avoid dam failure, controlled spillage exercises began Sept. 15, 2023, with additional spilling required Oct. 9.
The Church, in response to tens of thousands displaced, donated food, emergency sanitation materials and medical supplies to alleviate suffering and provide hope for residents.
Ablakwa explained: “Forty-thousand people were displaced by the flood, yet none of them died. This has a lot to do with the timeliness of your medical donations. The miracle of your intervention continues as people have hope where there had been hopelessness.”
Elder Nielsen graciously accepted the letter of appreciation, noting how honored the area presidency was to have the Members of Parliament take time from their busy schedules to present it in person.
He said, “We deeply feel in our hearts this shared gratitude for what we were able to accomplish together to bless the lives of your constituents who were affected by this devastating flood.”
At the end of their visit, the Members of Parliament received packets with information about the Church, including a Book of Mormon. The group also discussed with the area presidency what Latter-day Saints believe.
“Our focus as members of the Church of Jesus Christ,” said Elder Nielsen, “is to follow our Savior’s example by relieving the burdens placed on them.”
