By Albert Allotey
Accra, Nov. 04, GNA – Madam Esi Boni-Morkla , an official at the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) has called for collaboration and planning among stakeholders to find a lasting solution to floods from the Kpong and Akosombo Dams.
“We need the District Assemblies, the National Disaster Management Organisation, engineers and the civil society organisations to come together and formulate plans to avert water spillage at the catchment areas of Akosombo and Kpong Dams,” she stated.
Madam Boni-Morkla made the call when she presented an overview of Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage at the 104th edition of the National Level Learning Alliance Platform (NLLAP) meeting in Accra.
The meeting was on the theme: “Emergency WASH Interventions during the Flood from Kpong and Akosombo Dam Spillage.”
The meeting was organised by the Resource Centre Network Ghana in collaboration with the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and partners.
Madam Boni-Morkla mentioned some of the critical measures needed to prevent disasters such as early warnings, intensification of climate change education, resilience and sustainability planning, and emergency preparedness and response.
The rest are review of the national WASH emergency preparedness and response plan and the regional plans, enhanced coordination and collaboration among all partners, intentional budgetary allocation for emergencies, and enforcement of laws.
Madam Boni-Morkla said there was the need for the reviewing of the national and sub-national level emergency preparedness and response plan, and the continuous implementation of sustainable actions and plans.
She recounted that the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Hydroelectric Dams were started from September 15, 2023, due to heavy rains, which significantly increased the volume of water in the two dams, “termed, controlled spillage.”
The spillage caused flooding in districts such as North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Shai Osuduku, Asuogyaman, Keta, Ada West, Anlo, Lower Manya, Ada East, and Ketu South.
Madam Boni-Morkla said it impacted more than 35,000 people who lost their livelihoods, disruption of education and displacement.
GNA