Without Akosombo dam, Southern Ghana would face yearly flooding – Former VRA CEO
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Kirk Koffi, has emphasized the critical role of the Akosombo Dam in preventing what could be yearly catastrophic flooding in communities downstream along the Volta River.
Speaking in a media interview, Ing. Koffi noted that the dam, which was constructed in the 1960s, is not only vital for electricity generation but also serves as a strategic flood control infrastructure for much of southern Ghana.
“If we didn’t have the Akosombo Dam, communities downstream — including areas in the Volta, Eastern, and Greater Accra Regions — would be battling severe floods every year, especially during the peak of the rainy season,” he said.
His remarks come amid renewed conversations about recent floods claiming lives and property.
Ing. Koffi explained that the dam was designed not just for hydroelectric power but also to regulate the flow of the Volta River, whose natural course and rainfall patterns could otherwise overwhelm downstream settlements.
He added that despite public concerns during periods of spillage, the Akosombo Dam remains a vital national asset, and its management is governed by strict hydrological data and safety protocols to prevent uncontrolled flooding.
“The dam gives us control over a river that once flooded unpredictably. Without it, we would have no buffer,” he stressed.
He called for greater public education on the dam’s function and the need for long-term resettlement planning and flood preparedness in vulnerable communities. The Akosombo Dam, completed in 1965, created Lake Volta — the world’s largest man-made lake by surface area — and continues to be a central pillar in Ghana’s power and water management systems.
