Akosombo Dam Victims Will Get Some Relief – Hon Nana Agyemang Prempeh Assures

Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Hon Eric Nana Agyemah-Prempeh, has assured victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage  some relief from government.

Hon. Agyemang-Prempeh reassured victims of NADMO’s steadfast commitment to aiding their recovery following the Akosombo Dam Spillage disaster. He emphasized the organization’s non-discriminatory approach, irrespective of tribal, religious, or political differences, countering rumors suggesting otherwise.

READ ALSO: Someone Slept On The Job – Professor Gyampo On Akosombo Dam Spillage

During the briefing, the Director-General acknowledged a donation of 2 million Ghana Cedis and additional relief items from the Finance Ministry, led by Hon. Ken Ofori-Atta. The Minister praised NADMO’s response under Hon. Agyemang-Prempeh’s leadership since the onset of the Dam Spillage.

Akosombo Dam Victims Will Get Some Relief – Hon Nana Agyemang Prempeh Assures

Highlighting ongoing efforts, Hon. Agyemang-Prempeh affirmed NADMO’s dedication to collaborating with stakeholders to expedite solutions to the current disaster while setting a framework for effective disaster management in the future.

In a bid to directly assess the situation, Hon. Agyemang-Prempeh visited the safe zones sheltering individuals displaced by the Dam Spillage and heavy rains experienced throughout the week.

Large areas of land and communities downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong dams have been flooded since October 9, 2023. This follows the second stage leak at two dams used to generate a third of Ghana’s electricity.

The Volta River Authority (VRA) began controlling the flow of water in the eastern Akosombo and Kpong dams from 15 September 2023 after it became clear that heavy rains had caused excess water in the two reservoirs.

The leak affected almost all communities in the Volta region, causing major power outages in the affected communities.

READ ALSO: WAEC threatens to delay marking of BECE, WASSCE (This is why)

As of Thursday, October 12, 2023, the water level in the dam is 276.92 feet, that is, 84.405 meters. Before the leak, the water level was 272.50 feet or 83.058 meters.

The VRA is overflowing the dam because the water in the reservoir has reached the safe operating level for this time of year and the water must be drained from the reservoir to make room for the water flow. If not, water may overflow from the pond and affect its integrity. Question 2. Why does VRA need to splash water from electricity generation?

All existing rooms are now used to generate electricity, but the water entering the reservoir is still higher than before, so electricity generation alone cannot eliminate all the water. If the spill is not contained immediately, water could overflow the dam and cause uncontrollable damage to downstream communities.