2 months ago
18 ARTICLE AD
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has started its annual sensitisation engagement to deepen public education in communities in the lower Volta Basin of the Akosombo Dam, in preparation for a precautionary spillage when the need arises.
The annual sensitisation workshops which took place in the North, South and Central Tongu districts would continue to the Keta Municipality and Anloga district, all in the Volta Region, and the Ada-East in the Greater Accra Region.
Speaking at one of such workshops at Sogakope on Sunday, the Deputy Chief Executive in-charge of services, Mr Kenneth Mensah Arthur, said the programme followed the standard protocol of VRA annual emergency preparedness plan for people living in these areas to be well-informed about safety protocol in the event of a decision to conduct a precautionary spillage.
Mr Arthur explained that VRA did not take any decision on precautionary spill of the dam yet, therefore the educative programme formed part of his outfit’s proactive plans to conduct public education in the communities which were affected by the dam spillage.
He further explained that if VRA decided to spill, it would only become necessary because of the water levels in the dam that would pose a significant threat to the dam.
He also said VRA in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) had informed stakeholders during discussions that VRA had performed an analysis of the effects of the precautionary spillage in 2024.
According to him, an analysis of the 2024 proposed precautionary spillage showed that when 50,000 cubic feet per seconds (50,000CFS) of water was pilled, the water would largely remain in the river channel and would cause minimal impact for the structure found within the river channel.
Mr Arthur continued that the analysis also revealed that buildings in the affected districts which were not in the river channel would not be impacted if the precautionary spillage occurs.
He, therefore, assured stakeholders that the VRA education being carried out was not in any way to announce impending spillage, but rather to create awareness in affected communities and equip frontline agencies with relevant information on the extent of impact if it becomes necessary to start precautionary spill.
The stakeholders including District Chief Executives (DCEs), traditional rulers, aspiring parliamentary candidates (PCs) and members of the communities advised VRA to continue with necessary and timely information to the people to ensure their safety whenever there was a spillage.
They also appealed to the VRA to resettle people affected by the 2023 Akosombo and Kpong Dam spillage for them to leave thier normal life.
FROM SAMUEL AGBEWODE, SOGAKOPE
