A new report has revealed that the spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam in 2023 may have saved Ghana from a devastating national disaster.
The findings were shared by a five-member committee commissioned by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the event.
In the 126-page document submitted on May 7, the committee explained that about 8 million acre-feet of water had to be released to prevent the dam from overtopping due to dangerously high reservoir levels.
The chairman of the committee, Ing. Kirk Koffi, described the action as a necessary evil to protect lives and critical infrastructure.
“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,” the report stated.
It added that climate change, heavy rainfall, and human activity had all contributed to rising flood risks.
While the emergency response helped reduce the impact, the report also uncovered weaknesses in communication, resource allocation, and community engagement.
The committee pointed out the lack of local disaster preparedness plans and insufficient evacuation measures as significant challenges during the crisis.
Among its key recommendations, the report called for the simplification of the Volta River Authority’s Emergency Preparedness Plan, its translation into local languages, and the use of infographics for better understanding.
It also urged the government to establish a designated floodplain and begin planning resettlement for those at risk in flood-prone areas.
The committee stressed the need for a Legislative Instrument to restrict development within vulnerable areas and to strengthen critical infrastructure such as bridges and hospitals in the affected regions.
Read the full report below: