The Volta River Authority (VRA), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), has offered support to communities affected by the ongoing spilling of water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams through the presentation of relief items.
In keeping with the VRA’s commitment to alleviate the plight of communities, whilst monitoring the spill situation that has affected some communities in the lower Volta Basin, the Authority decided to provide essential relief items.
In a statement released in Accra yesterday, the VRA said the items are to help mitigate the difficulties being faced by the communities that have been impacted adversely as a result of the intensified spill rate. The presentation of the relief items took place on Wednesday, October 11, 2023, at a ceremony that was attended by the Municipal/District Chief Executives of the Central Tongu, North Tongu, Keta and Anlo Districts at Adidome in the Volta Region.
The items, which included mattresses, blankets, various food items, clothes and toiletries, were presented by Ing. Ken Arthur, the Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Services of the VRA. The Director General of NADMO, Mr Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, received the items on behalf of the affected communities.
The VRA commenced the controlled spillage on September 15, 2023, due to a consistent rise in the inflow pattern and water level of the Akosombo reservoir. In line with its emergency preparedness plan and standard operating procedures, the authority notified its stakeholders, including the downstream communities.
The Authority wishes to reiterate that it will continue to work with NADMO and other stakeholders to monitor the situation and provide regular updates to the general public accordingly.
Meanwhile the Paramount chief of Battor Traditional Area in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region, Togbega Patamia Dzekley VII, is sending SOS to the government, to as a matter of urgency, rescue the dangerously scary situation in the Lower Volta Basin.
In a statement issued and copied to The Chronicle yesterday, he said since the Volta River Authority (VRA) started spilling excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, the water level in the Lower Volta Basin has kept threatening and displacing the people.
“The intensity of the spillage is so strong that same towns in the Lower Volta Basin including Torgorme, Volo Battor, Mepe, Bakpa, Sokpoe some Island settlements, other areas are inundated with flood waters.
“Some of the towns and villages are bearing a heavy brunt of the flooding as they are becoming marooned and almost inaccessible. Some crops are already submerged and situation that will have a greater negative impact on food security in the area.
“Schools cannot function the normal way as the roads have been cut off by flood. One major imminent negative effect of the situation is that it has the tendency to increase the existing high level of poverty in the general area of Tongu. The poverty situation is militating against efforts by the people to quickly relocate to proper places of safety.
“From regular press briefings by the VRA, the spillage will continue for some time. In view of this caution, it is of critical essence for the government to intervene without delay to save lives and property.”
