Communities in Ghana’s Volta Region Submerged as VRA Releases Water from Dams
Communities in the North Tongu area of Ghana’s Volta Region have been submerged under water discharged by the Volta River Authority (VRA) from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams. The spillage has caused massive flooding, displacing thousands of residents and leading to property damage amounting to millions of dollars, according to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu.
Mr. Ablakwa has called on the VRA to ensure the relocation of all affected individuals to higher ground before carrying out another round of discharge to prevent further damage and displacement.
The floodwaters have had a significant impact on the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), which was forced to shut down its substation in Sogakope. The emergency shutdown is a safety measure to mitigate the risk of electrocution, loss of life, and other related dangers caused by the flooding of the substation and its surroundings.
The controlled spillage of the Akosombo Dam by the VRA, which commenced last month, is a response to the consistent rise in inflow patterns. The Authority has alerted residents along the Volta River and downstream to take necessary precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of the spillage.
Residents in Sogakope and its environs have experienced power outages due to the flooding. GRIDCo has assured the public that power will be restored as soon as the situation improves. Both GRIDCo and VRA have expressed regret for any inconvenience caused by this exercise.
The situation underscores the ongoing challenges posed by managing water resources in the face of changing climate patterns and their impact on local communities in Ghana.
