The Vice President, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia has called on stakeholders to think of re-engineering the Akosombo Dam to manage spillage and its ravaging effects on the livelihoods of communities.
He said this is necessary to safeguard the dam, lives, livelihoods, and properties amidst the threat posed by climate change.
He was speaking during a tour of communities in the South and Central Tongu Districts flooded by the spilled water from the Akosombo Dam.
“10 years ago, our worry was about the low level of water in the dam, today we are worried about the high level of the water in the dam. So climate change is bringing in new situations that we have to handle, and so I want to challenge the VRA and NADMO, let us start thinking of long-term solutions to this spillage from the dam. Is there a way we can manage the spillage?
Of course, I am not an engineer, so I want you the engineers to handle it. But one thing I have thought of is why can’t we have pipelines to the sea. But this is just someone who is not abreast in your field. Can we manage this spillage in a way that does not flood the immediate areas, divert the water as far as into the sea?”, he quizzed.
He recalled that the last time a spillage of the dam caused such havoc was 60 years ago, which led to some riverine communities migrating to their present settlement.
Dr. Bawumia commiserated with the over 26,000 residents displaced by the spillage in the 8 affected districts.
He indicated that the government was looking beyond just giving out relief items but providing sustainable livelihood support, to put back on track the lives of the victims.
“As you know, an inter-ministerial committee has been set up. VRA and NADMO are fully engaged in providing relief and the Ministry of Agriculture has also been tasked to start looking at how we will restore the livelihoods of the farmers along the banks of the river who have been displaced. And so beyond just providing temporary relief, we are looking at a more sustained approach to the victims so that they can restore the livelihoods that they have”, he said.
The Manklalo of Bakpa Traditional Area, Torgbi Kofi Tosu III disclosed that about 40 houses in 30 communities in the area have been submerged.
He, therefore, appealed for the provision of some relief items to cushion the victims in these hard times, as they struggle to fend for themselves, with water, food, clothing, and medical supplies.
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