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The Eastern Regional Minister, Ms. Mavis Ama Frimpong, has called for implementation of research recommendations on the Akosombo and Kpong hydro-power projects for sustainability.

She said that was the way forward, to restore food production systems and the livelihood of the people in the project communities.

The Minister was speaking at a grand durbar held to discuss the re-optimization and reoperation of the two dams.

This provided the platform to examine in detail, options that would allow for a more natural flow pattern to be re-established into the lower Volta River to reduce the risk of flooding, whilst improving reliability and access to water and power.

Ms. Frimpong underlined the national economic benefits from the two hydroelectric dams and said it was important do everything to bring life back to the people who were the direct beneficiaries of these projects.

The construction of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams in 1965 and 1982, respectively, had distorted the natural river flow – storing and releasing water to meet electricity demand patterns rather than in rhythm with seasonal pattern of rainfall and runoff in the catchment area.

Mr. Ben Ampomah, Executive Secretary of Water Resources Commission(WRC), said the goal was to help deepen the understanding of the people of the results of studies that sought to positively impact on the livelihoods of those living downstream of the two dams.

These studies were carried out in year 2012, by the Commission working in concert with other partners to determine how to address issues relating to restoration of downstream ecosystems, human livelihood, the reduction of water borne disease vectors, the increase of electric power output, and reliability of water supply for hydropower generation.

Nana Offei Aboagye Agyeman, Chief of Senkyi, expressed the hope that the outcome would be beneficial to the people and the communities.