Akosombo Dam Spillage Aftermath – Inter-Ministerial Committee Established to Address issue
The government has taken decisive action to mitigate the destructive effects of the Akosombo Dam spillage, a crisis that has caused significant inundation downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong dams. This follows the second-stage spillage of these dams, which jointly supply approximately one-third of Ghana’s electricity.
The controlled spillage was initiated by the Volta River Authority (VRA) on September 15, 2023, in response to excessive water levels in both the Akosombo and Kpong dam reservoirs, attributed to a considerable increase in rainfall. As a result, numerous communities along the lower Volta Basin have been adversely affected, leading to widespread power outages in these regions.
One of the immediate repercussions of this environmental challenge was the inundation of the GRIDCo substation located in Fievie, Sogakope, in the Volta Region, compelling authorities to shut down the facility.
To address the multifaceted impact of the spillage, the government has established an inter-ministerial committee, led by the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare. This committee will oversee and coordinate the government’s response to the crisis. Its composition includes ministers from key departments, such as National Security, Interior, Defence, Energy, Finance, Local Government, Works and Housing, Roads and Highways, Environment, Sanitation, Lands and Natural Resources, and Information.
The maximum water level in the Akosombo Dam, designated at 276 feet, exceeded its limits as of October 12, with the water level measuring 276.92 feet, equivalent 84.405 meters. Prior to the controlled spillage, the water level stood at 272.50 feet or 83.058 meters.
READ ALSO; Communities Submerged as VRA Discharges Water from Dams: Thousands Displaced
VRA has taken immediate steps to provide relief items to individuals adversely impacted by the floods and has stationed officers in affected communities to continually monitor and assess the situation for remediation since the commencement of the spillage operation.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is also actively engaged in assessing the damage to facilitate appropriate interventions and assistance to the affected communities.