A Road and Building Engineer, Abdulai Mahama, has suggested that the government should consider constructing irrigation dams downstream of the Akosombo Dam to regulate the potential havoc caused by its spillage.
He emphasized that these irrigation dams could effectively retain water whenever the Volta River Authority (VRA) needs to release water from the Akosombo Dam.
The VRA initiated the controlled spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023, due to a sustained increase in the inflow pattern and water levels in the Akosombo reservoir.
As a result of this spillage, thousands of residents in various areas, including South Tongu, North Tongu, Central Tongu, Asuogyaman, and others, have seen their homes submerged.
Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Mahama emphasized the necessity of implementing strategic measures to better manage the extent of damage in the future.
“When this spillage comes to a closure, we may have to look at alternative ways of redesigning the spilling channels so that if there might be major irrigation dams that will be constructed under lower streams, we will be able to contain quite a significant amount of water that will be spilled.”
“So that we will have some lives and properties being saved when there is the need for us to do the spillage,” he stated.