VRA engages stakeholders ahead of eminent Akosombo Dam spillage
The Volta River Authority (VRA) as part of its annual sensitization workshops in communities along the Lower Volta Basin has engaged key stakeholders in the three Tongu Districts namely North, Central and South Tongu of the Volta region.
The purpose of these engagements, which began on Monday, July 8, 2024, was aimed at deepening public education and sensitization for communities downstream of the Akosombo Dam in preparation for a precautionary spillage should the need arise.
This follows the standard protocols of the VRA’s annual emergency preparedness plan with the aim of having persons living in the six districts (North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Keta, Anloga, Ada East) in the Volta and Greater Accra regions well informed about safety protocols in the event of a decision to conduct a precautionary spillage.
The decision to spill from the Akosombo and Kpong dams over the years has been to protect and preserve the structural integrity of the critical national infrastructure which contributes significantly to the nation’s power generation, irrigation, and flood control needs.
The Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services, Ing Kenneth Mensah Arthur indicated that the authority has not taken a decision on a precautionary spill of the dam yet and the sensitization efforts are part of the authority’s proactive plan to conduct public education in the communities which usually are affected by the dam spillage.
However, if the Authority decides to spill, it will only be because of the water levels in the dam posing a significant structural integrity threat to the hydroelectric dam.
VRA together with the National Disaster management Organization (NADMO) during discussions informed the stakeholders that the Authority has performed an analysis of the effects of the precautionary spillage in 2024.
An analysis of the 2024 proposed precautionary spillage shows that when fifty thousand cubic feet per second (50,000 CFS) of water is spilled, the water would largely remain in the river channel and will cause minimal impact for structures found within the river channel.
However, areas such as Siamekome, Atsukope would be heavily affected, and parts of Awadiwoekome Island may experience minimal impacts per the rainfall timing in the Northern part of the country and Burkina Faso.
The analysis also revealed buildings in these districts which are not in the river channel will not be impacted if the precautionary spillage occurs.
The VRA assured that communities along the river banks and islands would be informed and evacuated before the spillage.
The VRA used the opportunity to assure the stakeholders that, the meeting was not to announce any impending spillage but to create awareness in our impacted communities and equip frontline agencies with relevant information on the extent of impact should it become necessary to commence the precautionary spill.
The stakeholders including District Chief Executives, Traditional Leaders, aspiring Parliamentary Candidates, Assembly and Community members all contributed to the discussions and advised the Authority to continue with the necessary and timely subsequent information flow to help them relay same to their people to ensure their people are safe and not affected by the spillage.
They also stated that the resettlement of the people affected by the 2023 Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage should be hastened so they can settle in the unlikely event of a precautionary spillage.
NADMO and the District Chief Executives who attended the sensitization workshops also assured the key stakeholders that government is committed to the well-being and safety of the people and would ensure that the precautionary spillage is started early enough to ensure that the discharge remains largely in the river channel.
VRA will continue the sensitization efforts in the Keta and Anloga districts and is expected to visit the Ada East district in the Greater Accra region in the coming days.
