By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu
Anyako (V/R), July 9, GNA-Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, Paramount Chief of the Amugo-Vego Traditional Area in the Keta Municipality, has appealed to residents to remain calm as the Keta Lagoon floodgate is being to mitigate the flooding situation affecting several communities in the area.
He also urged engineers and technical personnel overseeing the exercise to closely monitor water levels and close the gate at the appropriate time.
He warned against a repeat of the drought experienced three years ago due to the late closure of the floodgate, which allowed excessive lagoon water to flow into the sea.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui VII, who also holds certificate in Port Management and Shipping Administration, and PhD in Sociology with much knowledge about water and maritime issues, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, stated that the current flooding situation differed from what occurred in 2023, when the Akosombo Dam spillage was the major cause, and noted that the recent flooding had instead been driven largely by heavy rainfall in the areas.
Togbi Tenge Dzokoto Gligui, who is also the Dufia of Anyako-Konu and head of the “Bate” Clan, commended Mr Wisdom Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive, together with a team of engineers led by Mr Rex Edeckor and technical staff from the Volta River Authority, for their swift intervention.
“My appeal goes to the residents in flood-affected communities within my jurisdiction, including Anlo-Afiadenyigba, Seva and Atiavi, among others, to remain patient and support the ongoing initiative to ensure its success,” he said.
He further advised the affected victims to keep patience while the engineers and the technical team from the VRA who were responsible for the opening of the floodgates monitor the water level and close the gates when necessary to avoid any further unfortunate situations thereafter.
Meanwhile, Engineer Rex Edeckor, speaking during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at the Keta Municipal Assembly, said the opening of the floodgate had already begun yielding positive results, with water levels receding in many of the affected communities such as Anyako, Atiavi-Glime, Fiaxor, Shime among others.
He said it would take approximately one to two weeks for floodwaters to fully recede from the various affected areas and explained that the Keta Lagoon covered an area of approximately 40 kilometres by 80 kilometres, and that the water level had risen by 1.5 metres, about one foot above its natural level, translating into an estimated 96 million cubic metres of excess water being channelled into the sea.
“Let me pay tribute to the late former President Jerry John Rawlings for his administrative role in the construction of the floodgate in 2004, and also acknowledge the contributions of Engineer Papa B.T.K. Adadevo, Professor Kumafle and Togbi Kporku III to the project, all of blessed memory.”
Mr Patrick Atsu Kuatsikor, the team leader of the VRA technical team, disclosed to the GNA that 16 out of the 20 floodgates had so far been opened, while the remaining four were at risk of rusting and collapse, and called for urgent maintenance works to safeguard the structure.
He said proper engineering assessments would continue to guide decisions on when to close the gates, to prevent excessive lagoon water from draining into the sea which could trigger drought conditions similar to those experienced previously in the communities that depend largely on the lagoon water for survival.
Mr Wisdom Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive, in an interview with the GNA, commended the Chiefs, stakeholders, engineers, VRA technical team, the media and the entire community for their various roles in ensuring the successful opening of the floodgate to alleviate the flooding situation in the three Municipalities including Ketu South, Anloga and Keta.
He pledged that better and more sustainable measures would be put in place to either modernise or properly maintain the 23-year-old floodgate to prevent its collapse.
The MCE expressed appreciation to all stakeholders for their cooperation and called for continued collaboration to safeguard the infrastructure and protect residents from future flooding.
He assured residents that the Assembly, together with its partners, would continue to prioritise the welfare and safety of communities within the flood-prone areas of the Municipality.
“Our stakeholders’ engagement meeting ended, we have a renewed commitment from all parties to work together to monitor the floodgate closely and undertake the needed maintenance to secure its long-term functionality.”
Some residents the GNA engaged in the flood-affected areas such Vodza, Kedzi, Hatorgodo, Lawoshime, Anyako among others have also stated that they have seen a significant progress after the opening of the floodgates by the stakeholders.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah /Kenneth Odeng Adade