The Volta River Authority (VRA) says simulation exercises were organised for communities along the Volta River long before the spillages of the Akosombo and Kpong dams were conducted.
It said the exercises were held in May this year, under the theme: “Exercise Da Wo Ho So 2023,” to help ensure that all relevant stakeholders were prepared for flood-related events.
In a statement dated October 19, 2023, and signed by the VRA Deputy Chief Executive (Engineering & Operations), Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, the exercise was to test the emergency response procedures and capabilities of communities, and lessons from the exercise were noted to improve response preparedness.
He said the exercise had the Chief Director of the Ministry of the Interior, Mrs. Adelaide Anno-Kumi, as well as a delegation from the United States of America, North Dakota National Guards, to provide technical support and to help validate the VRA Emergency Preparedness Plan.
According to him, other major stakeholders who played various roles in the emergency simulation exercise included the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Navy, Armed Forces, Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Planning Officers, District Chief Executives, Divine Osborne Fenu, Sarah Pobee, and some traditional rulers.
“The simulation exercise was conducted, concurrently at the three District Assemblies, namely Asuogyaman, Ada East and North Tongu, while complementary simulations took place in the six remaining districts. The main objective was to test response to (excessive) spillage of 5,000 to 10,000 m3/s of water from the Akosombo dam, resulting in extensive flooding of downstream districts,” he stated
As part of the exercise, there was a dry- run from the established of National and District Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs) to test the emergency communication channels, and important information regarding the exercise was also relayed to the relevant Relief Agency personnel.
Resident in these communities were taken through how to evacuate their homes, in addition to first aid and safety responses for early warning and notification. They also worked with the relief agency personnel on the process of search and rescue of trapped victims in flooded areas during a potential spillage scenario.
He further added that there was a simulation on the evacuation of trapped victims to designated safe havens from communities prone to higher risks of flooding and one of such communities identified was Mepe.
Therefore an EOC was setup within Mepe, with their District Chief Executive, Hon. Divine Osborne Fenu at the helm of the simulation exercise. Relief Agency personnel from the simulation exercise took their time to explain all communication and evacuation protocols to the people of Mepe.
Simulations to mimic real life situations, such as voluntary evacuation, first aid, search and rescue activities, amongst others, were successfully carried out with selected members of the Mepe community, whilst the rest of the town members looked on and asked questions.
As part of its Emergency Preparedness Plan, VRA also allocated funds to support the purchase of relief items by NADMO. This was to ensure that there would be financial support for the immediate evacuation and relief efforts in a flood scenario.
The ongoing controlled spilling from the Akosombo dam has been carried out on an incremental basis since September 15th 2023; starting gradually from 20,000 cubic feet per second, to the current level of 180,000 cubic feet per second. This unfortunately is because, the rainfall pattern changed significantly from prior years,(a 1 in 50 year scenario) and continued to fill up the dam to critical levels.
To put this in perspective, the geographical land mass occupied by the Akosombo dam is about 3% of the country’s total land area; more than twice the size of the Greater Accra Region. The increased spilling of the Akosombo dam was imperative to ensure that the dam did not break and cause fatal floods which would be catastrophic.
As the controlled spilling continues, VRA has vowed to do it absolute best in helping the victims in the affected communities. In addition to funds allocated to NADMO, VRA have already provided 820 bags of rice,487 cartons of canned food,7,400kgs of legumes, cereals and nuts, 350 cartons of provisions and oil, and 5,400 bags of sachet water.
Medical supplies and drugs worth over a million Ghana Cedis and counting have been made available to target diseases such as cholera, enteric fever, dysentery, worm infestations ,skin infections, snake bites, malaria and respiratory diseases.
These relief items are distributed to the designated safe havens on a daily basis. Sogakope has been designated as the Medical Supply Distribution Depot to enable easy access to medical supplies and drugs.
VRA, together with NADMO, is constantly supplying potable water in tankers to the affected communities and have began the process of restoring the water supply system in Aveyime in the North Tongu District.
