The Volta River Authority (VRA) has initiated a series of stakeholder engagements in the Volta Region’s North, Central, and South Tongu districts as part of its annual sensitization workshops.
These workshops, which commenced on Monday, July 8, 2024, aim to enhance public education and preparedness in communities downstream of the Akosombo Dam, anticipating a potential precautionary spillage.
Following standard protocols of the VRA’s emergency preparedness plan, these engagements target residents in six districts: North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Keta, Anloga, and Ada East in the Volta and Greater Accra regions.
The goal is to ensure that these communities are well-informed about safety measures in case a spillage is necessary to protect the dam’s structural integrity.
Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services, Ing. Kenneth Mensah Arthur, clarified that no decision had been made regarding a precautionary spill.
The current sensitization efforts are proactive measures to educate communities that might be affected by such an event. A decision to spill would only be made if the water levels in the dam posed a significant threat to its structural integrity.
During discussions with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), the VRA presented an analysis of the potential effects of a precautionary spillage in 2024.
The analysis indicated that releasing fifty thousand cubic feet per second (50,000 CFS) of water would mostly keep the water within the river channel, causing minimal impact to structures within the channel. Buildings outside the river channel in the affected districts would remain unaffected.
The VRA reassured stakeholders that the meetings were intended to raise awareness and equip frontline agencies with relevant information rather than announce any imminent spillage.
Stakeholders, including District Chief Executives, traditional leaders, aspiring parliamentary candidates, and community members, actively participated in the discussions. They advised the VRA to ensure timely information dissemination to keep their communities safe.
Additionally, stakeholders called for expedited resettlement of individuals affected by the 2023 Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage to prepare them for any potential future spillage.
NADMO and the District Chief Executives assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to the well-being and safety of the people, emphasizing that any precautionary spillage would be managed to keep discharge largely within the river channel.
The VRA will continue its sensitization efforts in the Keta and Anloga districts with plans to visit the Ada East district in the Greater Accra region in the coming days.