At a high-level meeting in Accra, Hon. Henry Quartey, Minister for the Interior, emphasized the importance of stakeholder engagement, sensitization, and public safety in the event of this year’s spillage from the Akosombo Dam.
The meeting, held with officials from the Volta River Authority (VRA) and various security and emergency services, underscored the critical need for coordinated efforts to manage the potential impact on affected communities.
Hon. Quartey specifically urged the VRA to engage Members of Parliament from the potentially impacted areas as part of their sensitization drive.
The VRA team, led by Ing. Kenneth M. Arthur, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services, presented a comprehensive roadmap detailing the interventions and precautions to ensure the safety of communities downstream.
Ing. Arthur explained that the VRA has identified hotspot communities likely to be affected and has already begun sensitizing them to avoid fear and panic. “We have also taken precautionary steps, including engaging with stakeholders and sharing updates with the public regularly,” he added.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Ministry of the Interior, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Immigration Service, National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service, and Ambulance Service, demonstrated a collaborative effort to ensure the safety of Ghanaians.
The proactive approach by the VRA has been reportedly commended by the Minister and stakeholders, with the authority assuring the public of its commitment to regular updates on the situation.
In 2023, the dam spillage in southeastern Ghana, triggered by heavy rainfall, resulted in a controlled release of water to prevent dam failure.
This led to significant flooding, displacing 31,000 people across multiple communities, including Mepe and districts in the Volta and Eastern Regions. The spillage was necessary due to rising water levels exacerbated by climate change.
