Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Engineering and Operations) of Volta River Authority (VRA), has defended the decision of the management of the Authority to have spilled the dam causing floods in nearby communities.
The Akosombo dam spillage has displaced more than 25,000 residents and destroyed properties worth millions of cedis.
The victims, who are being held in makeshift shelters, have seen the President and Vice President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as well as NADMO come to their aid.
The Ghana Armed Forces and Navy have been instrumental in the rescue mission.
Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's morning show "Kokrokoo", the VRA Engineering boss asserted that the spillage was necessary, otherwise, it will be risking the safety of the dam.
He cited the collapse of the dam in Libya resulting in the death of thousands and explained that the water levels in the Akosombo dam were so high that the only option was to open the gates for the water to subside.
"It's a decision call that you always have to make looking at both sides of it and make sure you take that correct decision," he emphasized.
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Nobody is saying the spillage was not necessary. The dam is the single most important national asset and needs to be secured. The challenge has to do with why for 60 years running you (VRA) engineers have not been able to come out with scientific idea as to how the excess water from the spillage can be stored and used during the dry season when when rains no longer falls in the northern Ghana, the source of the water for the dam. Bet me by February 2024 the water level of the Akosombo dam would have fallen making it difficult for all the turbines to run smoothly, but see the volumes of water going to waste due to the spillage. The main challenge facing Ghana today is that people are paid to talk not to think , from so called politicians, to CEO's, managing directors/ damaging directors, when it comes to talking they are on top, when it comes to thinking, it's about what to fetch from the national coffers not how to make the organization/ country any better.