Government forms 13-member Inter-Ministerial Committee to tackle Akosombo Dam Spillage induced flooding
Government forms 13-member Inter-Ministerial Committee to tackle Akosombo Dam Spillage induced flooding
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has instructed the forming of a 13-member inter-ministerial team headed by the Chief of Staff.
According to the published release dated 13th October 2023 and signed by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the President of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo has instructed the formation of a 13-member committee to coordinate the government’s response to the unfortunate flooding of some communities following spilling from the Volta dam.
LIST: MEMBERS OF THE 13-MEMBER COMMITTEE
The committee comprises:
1. Chief of Staff -Chairperson.
2. Minister for National Security.
3. Minister for the Interior.
4. Minister for Defence.
5. Minister for Energy.
6. Minister for Finance.
7. Minister for Local Government.
8. Minister for Works and Housing.
9. Minister for Roads and Highways.
10. Minister for Environment.
11. Minister for Sanitation.
12. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
13. Minister for Information.
BACKGROUND
It will be recalled that the Volta River Authority (VRA) spilled excess water from the hydro dam, Akosombo Dam for days now.
The water has caused the displacement of over 4,000 residents in the Volta Region specifically the people of North, Central, and Tongu Constituency.
Updates from the affected communities have shown that the people there have been affected massively and need the intervention of the government for a lasting solution.
Speaking on the Akosombo Dam spillage, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa told journalists on Thursday, 12th October 2023 that “The lake is currently experiencing inflows more than expected hence the spillage is going to continue.
“We are on phase II [of the spillage] right now and it is a cycle. It is normal at this time of the year for us to experience inflows.
“The difference is that we are getting more than expected and to safeguard this dam means that we have to spill water, that is the standard operation for any hydro dam but the inflows that we are seeing now are in excess.
“Definitely, as the cycle goes through this will recede so we are hoping it will recede in the next time.
“The spilling may continue even though we are anticipating that the levels may drop down to phase 1, which was started on September 15 but of course, we did not have much excess as we are seeing now, this is an emergency as we have seen from the beginning.
“Whether dredging or no dredging it is an emergency. The volume of water that is coming into the lake right now which we have to throw out, it means that we need to evacuate people from wherever they are to ensure they are safe until the inflows recede,” the VRA CEO added.
SOURCE: Coverghana.com.gh
