An
aerial
shot
showing
floods
in
the
dam
area
in
previous
spillage
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The
Volta
River
Authority
(VRA)
has
announced
its
intention
to
engage
relevant
stakeholders
of
a
potential
spillage
of
excess
water
from
the
Akosombo
Dam.
This
was
contained
in
a
notice
signed
by
VRA’s
Deputy
Chief
Executive
in
Charge
of
Services,
Ing.
Ken
Arthur,
to
over
40
stakeholders,
including
the
Minister
for
the
Interior
and
all
the
assemblies
within
the
dam’s
catchment
areas.
The
notice
indicated
that
VRA
will
follow
up
later
with
the
dates
and
times
for
the
engagement
awaiting
the
possibility
of
spillage
if
necessary.
“The
Volta
River
Authority
(VRA)
intends
to
commence
engagements
regarding
the
potential
controlled
spillage
of
water
from
the
Akosombo
Dam.
This
precautionary
measure
is
crucial
to
maintaining
the
structural
integrity
of
the
dam
and
ensuring
the
safety
of
our
communities,”
the
notice
read.
It
added
that
“We
propose
to
engage
you
and
the
relevant
team
to
discuss
the
potential
implications,
mitigative
measures
and
information
dissemination.”
In
September
2023,
the
VRA
began
releasing
excess
water
from
the
Akosombo
Dam
due
to
a
significant
rise
in
inflow
and
high
water
levels.
This
necessary
measure
aimed
to
prevent
potential
dam
failure,
but
it
came
at
a
high
cost
to
the
surrounding
communities.
The
spillage
affected
numerous
districts,
displacing
around
39,000
people
and
destroying
properties
worth
millions
of
Ghana
cedis.
The
flooding
brought
life
to
a
standstill.
Schools
closed,
disrupting
the
education
of
many
students,
while
farming
and
trading
activities
were
halted,
severely
impacting
local
economies.
The
2023
controlled
spillage
lasted
until
October
30,
2023,
when
VRA
announced
its
end.
Government
also
announced
a
GH¢220
million
compensation
package
for
the
victims,
which
President
Nana
Addo
Dankwa
Akufo-Addo
during
his
67th
Independence
Day
speech
in
Koforidua
on
March
6,
2023,
said
GH¢80
million
had
been
disbursed.