Akosombo Dam Spillage: Mahama orders flood plan, threatens VRA leadership

President John Mahama has issued a warning to the Volta River Authority (VRA). He stated that future flooding due to poor dam management will lead to dismissals of top executives.

In his national address, he marked his 120th day in office. He announced that the government completed its investigation into the 2023 flood disaster. This disaster was caused by spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.

The flooding displaced tens of thousands of people. It also destroyed homes and disrupted livelihoods in parts of the Volta and Eastern regions.

“To address this man-made disaster, we promised a probe,” said President Mahama. “We also committed to compensating victims.” A committee was formed, chaired by Ing. Kirk Koffi, a former VRA chief executive.

President Mahama shared that the committee's report included recommendations for prevention. “They suggested strategies like a Controlled Spill Flood Plan,” he explained. The report also called for downstream engineering solutions for better flood management.

He emphasized the consequences of failing to implement these recommendations. “If another destructive VRA flooding occurs, the VRA CEO and deputies must resign or be sacked,” he warned.

The President announced that compensation steps for flood victims have started. “The 2025 budget includes funds for compensation payments,” he noted. A team is coordinating this compensation exercise.

He urged chiefs and residents in affected areas to support this process. In addition to these issues, President Mahama addressed other governance matters as well.

He stressed that his administration will not tolerate disasters caused by negligence. “The days of indifference are over,” he declared. “We will act and hold those responsible accountable.”