VRA Announces Plan for Another Spillage; As Panic Grips Residents

Residents in communities along the Akosombo Dam catchment areas in Lower Volta, who were displaced by the flooding last year, are beginning to live in fear, following a notice by the Volta River Authority (VRA) about another looming spillage.

Though management of VRA, is yet to announce date for the exercise, some residents whose farmlands were heavily affected by the disaster last year, are said to have started harvesting their food crops out of panic, even though they are not fully matured.

Others are also said to be sitting on tenterhooks, without knowing their fates, barely few months after coming out from the last incident which is yet to return their lives to normalcy.

The state-owned power generator and supplier in a letter, notified over 40 stakeholders, including the Minister for the Interior and local assemblies within the catchment areas of the Akosombo Dam, about the potential for excess water spillage.

The notification, dated July 5, 2024, and signed by Ing. Ken Arthur, Deputy Chief Executive in Charge of Services, proposes a stakeholder engagement as a precautionary measure.

“The Volta River Authority (VRA) intends to commence engagements regarding the potential controlled spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam. This precautionary measure is crucial to maintaining the structural integrity of the dam and ensuring the safety of our communities,” the notice said.

It highlights the importance of proactive engagement to ensure the Akosombo Dam’s structural integrity and the surrounding communities’ safety.

The VRA emphasised that, while the spillage is not confirmed yet, preparing and engaging stakeholders promptly is essential.

According to the notice, these measures are part of VRA’s commitment to maintaining the safety protocols around the dam and responding swiftly to any potential risks posed by the water levels.

“We propose to engage you and the relevant team to discuss the potential implications, mitigative measures and information dissemination,” the statement added.

In October 2023, a controlled spillage of the Akosombo Dam, was conducted to prevent overflow, leading to the displacement of residents in low-lying areas.

The most affected communities were in the North and Central Tongu districts, with estimates indicating that over 35,857 people, were displaced, and numerous homes and farmlands, were destroyed as a result.

The floods, had a significant impact on more than 30,000 individuals in the North Tongu district, leaving them in desperate need of assistance from the government, state  agencies and charitable organisations.