Although the spillage of the Akosombo Dam last year brought about untold hardships and stress to victims and the entire nation, Security Consultant, Col. Festus Aboagye contends it is an opportunity for the country to overhaul its disaster management systems for the better.
To save the structural integrity of the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam which has a net generation capacity of 6,502,784,456 kWh, the Volta River Authority (VRA) embarked on what they described as “controlled spillage.”
The VRA said failure to embark on the spillage would have resulted in the collapse of the dam which is currently valued at US$2.1 billion and plunge the entire country into a national energy crisis.
The controlled spillage began on the 15th of September to the 30th of October 2023. The exercise unleashed large volumes of water causing flooding downstream leading to the devastation of communities in the Lower Volta Area. Several communities in North Tongu, South Tongu, and Central Tongu among others were virtually wiped out by the spillage.
The Emergency Operation Centre stationed at Battor reports that the devastation displaced close to 40,000 residents mainly across Mepe and surrounding communities. The economic impact ranged from the destruction of homes, farms, ponds, and other critical infrastructure.
The spillage-induced flood also resulted in snake bites, outbreaks of malaria, diarrhea, cholera, dysentery, and typhoid among others. In addition, the affected also experienced emotional and psychological stress as well as trauma.
The manner in which the spillage was conducted and how the government responded to the disaster, Col. Festus Aboagye believes was less to be desired.
In a policy brief copied to The High Street Journal, the Security Consultant noted that the spillage exposed the inefficiencies in the country’s disaster response mechanisms as efforts were slow and uncoordinated.
Col. Aboagye says the government’s response was largely reactive and was marred by factors such as inadequate risk assessment, insufficient resource allocation, lack of comprehensive planning and early warning mechanisms as well as weak coordination.
“The 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage disaster laid bare the deep-seated vulnerabilities in Ghana’s disaster management framework, revealing a critical failure of foresight, preparation, and coordinated action. This crisis not only challenged the nation’s ability to protect its citizens but also highlighted the urgent need for a complete overhaul of Ghana’s approach to disaster preparedness and response,” the Security Consultant asserted in his policy brief.
Despite the havoc caused by the exercise, Col. Aboagye believes it presents an opportunity for the country to radically transform its disaster management systems.
He said, “Within this failure lies an opportunity for transformative change” adding that “the lessons drawn from this disaster demand a paradigm shift in disaster management.”
Among other things, Col. Festus Abogye is of the view that this is an opportunity for the country to enhance its early warning systems, strengthen institutional capacity, develop a comprehensive national disaster strategy, and improve infrastructure resilience among others.
