Akosombo Dam Spillage: Detailed Information on The Cause and Casualties

Residents in Ghana’s Southeast were compelled to evacuate their homes on Friday, October 13, 2023, as a result of extensive flooding caused by a large dam.

Akosombo Dam overflow, which caused terrible damage to houses and farmlands near Volta Lake, served as the catalyst for this regrettable tragedy.

This has left certain parts of the Southeastern Region without access to basic utilities like electricity and water.

Over 400 people have been directly displaced by the flooding in nine districts located in the Southeast region of Ghana, according to a report released by the government of Ghana.

Volta Lake Spill: What Caused The Volta Lake Spill Over?

Seji Saji, the Deputy Director General of the National Disaster Management Organization (Nadmo), blames the flooding on climate change-related torrential rainfall.

Rainfall patterns in Ghana have been erratic for the past eight months. Scientists say that this is a result of changing climate.
Regarding this, the Volta River Authority and the Ghanaian Electricity Company, which oversees the dams, were forced to initiate a “controlled spillage” because of the considerable impact that the heavy rainfalls had on the water level of the Volta Lake and the Akosombo Dam.

They informed that the Akosombo Dam’s maximum safe operating level is 277.5 feet (84.6 meters) and that the dam could burst if the water behind it rises any higher.

Akosombo Dam Spillage: Detailed Information on The Cause and Casualties

The water level recently rose just below the operational level, forcing the authorities to “spill” extra water in order to avert a potentially disastrous situation.

The Akosombo Dam and the Kpong Dam together produce more than a third of Ghana’s total electricity needs. The authorities have stated that they will monitor the amount of water flowing upstream while reducing the rate at which the dams spill.

Since then, the dam has been spilled as needed with little effect on the residents. However, the flooding this year was among the worst to affect the more than 100 towns located downstream since the construction of the dam.

How Severe is the Flooding In the Volta Region?

Since the floods began on Wednesday, October 11, about eight districts have been impacted, according to the NADMO. Many have reportedly lost their habitat, and the effects of the floods are still being evaluated.

Since toilet facilities, cemeteries, and garbage dumps have all been flooded, there is a growing concern about a disease outbreak in the flood-affected area. The impacted areas are without access to necessities like electricity and water.

Speaking to the media, a local farmer, Mr Borlor narrated that “There are about 15 communities in the lower Volta basin. Eight of them have been greatly affected, farmlands have been washed away, so economic activities have been greatly affected. We are feeling bad, our livelihood has been taken away, this is not how we live”.

“The bike I use for my okada [motorcycle taxi] business is in the room that collapsed, so it has affected me. No food to eat. My farm has been washed away by the floods. As I’m talking to you, these clothes I have on me now are the only ones I have.” he added.

The Global Disaster and Coordination System, affiliated with the United Nations, reported seven injuries in connection with the disaster.

Measures To Aid Affected Residents

Residents in the region were advised to leave before the spill, according to authorities near the Volta River. The Ghanaian electrical company also conducted disaster preparedness simulation exercises with some villages, but these efforts failed to mitigate the impact of the floods.

The navy of Ghana has been supporting the rescue operations. It claims to have saved more than 8,000 lives up to this point.

Gideon Ofori

Gideon Ofori is a fine art and entertainment writer from Ghana. I have practiced art writing for about a decade and have received recognition in various Ghana Media awards including the Eastern Media Excellence Awards and among others. Email: Realgideonofori@gmail.com Tel: +233 (0) 544 706 923