The Volta River Authority (VRA) has made significant reductions in the spilling rate of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams due to the recession of rainfall in the area.
Over the past week, the spill rate has decreased from a peak of 180,000 cuft/sec to 20,000 cuft/sec.
This decrease will prevent the overflow of water and keep it within the river banks.
The Director General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, provided an update on the government’s relief efforts after the spillage of the Akosombo Dam. He assured Ghanaians that there are plans being implemented beyond the short term to support flood victims.
As the water recedes, NADMO plans to decontaminate water bodies in affected communities, assess the integrity of infrastructure in submerged buildings, clear debris, fumigate the area, and engage with stakeholders on the reopening of schools for academic activities.
In terms of long-term solutions, an inter-ministerial committee set up by the President has been assigned to address the issue.
NADMO remains committed to its core and constitutional mandate of providing relief and support to affected communities through the district Disaster Management committees and other stakeholders.
NADMO also calls on Ghanaians to come together and unite in fighting the devastations caused by climate change in the Volta region.
The organization emphasizes the need for a permanent solution to prevent the havoc caused by spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.
As of October 17, authorities had reported about thirty one thousand people displaced by the flooding, primarily in the Volta Region.
South, Central, and North Tongu districts in the Region are amongst the worst affected areas after the Volta River Authority conducted a spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong dams due to what it called a “consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo dam.”
By Vincent Kubi