By: Alexander Afriyie
The Akosombo Dam spillage, which displaced nearly 40,000 people and caused widespread destruction in Ghana’s Volta Region, has been attributed to climate change rather than ineffective leadership. According to Ing. Kirk Koffi, Chairman of the Akosombo Dam Spillage Committee, the spillage was a necessary measure to prevent the dam’s destruction due to unprecedented rainfall ¹.
Committee’s Findings.
The committee’s 126-page report, submitted to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, on May 7, highlights the following key points.
– Climate Change: The spillage was primarily caused by releasing approximately 8 MAF volumes of water from the Akosombo Dam to prevent the dam’s destruction due to high reservoir water levels, exacerbated by unprecedented rainfall attributed to climate change.
– Human Activities: Human activities in flood-prone areas contributed to the flood risks.
– Necessary Evil: The spillage was deemed a necessary evil to prevent a catastrophic chain of events that could have resulted from the dam’s breaching.
Recommendations.
Ing. Koffi emphasized the need for a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to prevent construction in flood-prone areas and urged District Assemblies and traditional leaders to enforce zoning laws. The committee has also come up with guidelines for compensation for affected communities ¹.
Local Leadership Commended.
Ing. Koffi commended local leaders, including the Chief of Mepe and several Municipal Chief Executives, for their swift humanitarian response during the crisis, providing shelter to displaced victims.
The report’s findings aim to inform future policies and measures to mitigate the impact of similar events in Ghana. Alexander Afriyie