Residents of Mepe in the North Tongu District are gripped with fear following the announcement by the Volta River Authority (VRA) to spill excess water from the Akosombo Dam. The Manklalo of Mepe Traditional Area, Togbe Kwasi Nego VI, expressed the community’s concerns to stating that they are still recovering from the harm caused by the last spillage.
Togbe Kwasi Nego VI, who is also an Assembly Member of Degorme Electoral Area, lamented that the Inter-ministerial Committee set up by the President after the last spillage has not shown any signs of progress or improvement.
The community members described the announcements from VRA as pathetic, indicating that they are not convinced by the authority’s assurances. On July 8, VRA announced its intention to engage relevant stakeholders on a potential spillage of excess water from the Akosombo Dam.
The announcement was contained in a notice signed by VRA’s Deputy Chief Executive in Charge of Services, Ing. Ken Arthur, and sent to over 40 stakeholders. The stakeholders included the Minister for the Interior, all assemblies within the dam’s catchment areas, and other relevant parties.
The notice indicated that VRA will follow up later with the dates and times for the engagement, pending the possibility of spillage if necessary.
The community is worried about the potential impact of the spillage, as they are still recovering from the previous incident. The Mepe residents are urging the authorities to take their concerns seriously and take necessary measures to mitigate the effects of the spillage.