The Volta River Authority (VRA) has successfully restored power to Mepe, one of the Volta Region settlements devastated by flood waters caused by Akosombo dam overflow.
Furthermore, the Authority has restored the community water supply in Aveyime, which was flooded around two weeks ago.
Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, said the VRA has been deeply concerned about the welfare of residents of the affected areas and has taken appropriate steps to first and foremost safeguard their lives while returning them to normalcy in a press briefing on Tuesday, October 24, 2023, in Accra.
“In the face of adversity, we have managed to restore electricity and water to the safe havens in Mepe and other affected communities,” he said.
“This achievement represents a significant step forward in our mission to alleviate the residents’ difficulties. We recognise the importance of electricity and water in daily life and are committed to restoring basic necessities to affected people.”
The spillage was caused by excessive inflows into the Akosombo reservoir, which caused the water level to exceed its upper limit. As a result, the VRA was forced to dump surplus water to keep it from overflowing and jeopardising the dam’s stability.
The Deputy CEO explained that the ongoing controlled spilling was based on sound engineering analysis and judgement, with the primary priority being the preservation of life and the integrity of the dam.
Despite this, he stated that the Authority has given critical assistance materials in accordance with VRA’s commitment to ease the hardship of the impacted people since the incident occurred.
Mr. Obeng-Kenzo emphasised that the VRA, in partnership with the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has been delivering vital assistance items to affected areas since October 10th. These things include food, drugs, tents, drinking water, enhanced sanitation, and other requirements.
The Deputy CEO also commended all those who helped provide aid to the affected communities, including NADMO, the Ministry of Energy, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Ministry of Health.
