President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stern warning to the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA) and his deputies. In a national address on his administration’s 120-day social contract, President Mahama made it clear that any repeat of the devastation caused by the spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams will not be tolerated and will lead to their dismissal.
President Mahama emphasized that his government had fulfilled its promise to launch an investigation into the incident. The Energy Minister had inaugurated a five-member committee, chaired by Ing. Kirk Koffi, to look into the events leading up to the spillage.
The committee has since recommended measures to prevent future occurrences, such as establishing a controlled spill flood plan and implementing downstream engineering solutions for flood management. President Mahama stressed the importance of implementing these recommendations immediately to avoid another destructive VRA-induced flooding like the one witnessed in 2023. He stated that if the recommendations are not properly implemented and another devastating flood occurs, the VRA CEO and deputies must resign or be dismissed. Immediate steps must also be taken to compensate flood victims.
To support the victims of the Akosombo Dam spillage, the government has allocated GH₵242.5 million. The controlled release of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, which began on 15th September 2023 and continued until 30th October 2023, caused significant flooding in the Lower Volta region. Over 88,000 people and more than 5,000 homes were affected by the floods.
It is crucial for the VRA and government to take swift action to prevent such disasters in the future and ensure the safety and well-being of all those living in flood-prone areas. President Mahama’s warning serves as a reminder of the need for accountability and proactive measures to avoid similar tragedies in the future.
