Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Kirk Koffi, has noted that the devastating effects of the Akosombo Dam spillage cannot be blamed on any individual or group.Speaking to the media on Wednesday, May 21, he stated that the spillage was necessary to prevent disaster and not as a result of negligence.“No, no, it all depends… direct rainfall can impact what it comes from anywhere. It’s just a result of the inflow. You cannot hold them responsible because they would have died anyway.”

According to him, the Volta River Authority (VRA) had to spill excess water to prevent damage to the Dam as well as ensure safety.

“By September 2023, when we were to see a downward trend in the inflow, it picked up, which was an indication, and they had to spill a little bit more. Those who run the facility don’t bridge the dam; if you do, everybody downstream will go, and you will not save anybody. That is, if the water overflows. 2023 was an unusual year,” he explained.

The flood, caused the spillage, which began mid-September 2023 and lasted over six weeks, displaced approximately 38,624 residents and wreaked havoc on properties, schools, health centres and farmlands in communities such as North, Central and South Tongu, Ada, and Kpong.

Nearly 1,247 homes, 94 schools, and 17 health facilities were destroyed, while agricultural losses were estimated at $78 million.

The five-member committee, inaugurated by President John Dramani Mahama, spent two months investigating the causes and response to the spillage and submitted its 110-page report to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, on May 7.

While the committee acknowledged that the primary cause of the spillage was to protect the dam from destruction, it strongly criticized the weak emergency response mechanisms that followed.

It noted that the VRA’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP), though technical and shared with stakeholders, suffered setbacks.

“While VRA had socialised the document with all stakeholders and conducted a simulation exercise for some selected communities before the spill, high turnout and divisions amongst some District Chief Executives (DCEs)/Metropolitan Chief Executives (MCEs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) could have derailed clear communication lines for implementing the plan and distribution of relief items,” the report noted.

Central to the committee’s findings was the failure of effective coordination among key agencies. Moreover, the response from government institutions revealed worrying gaps.“While there were efforts to provide immediate assistance, gaps in communication, resource allocation, and community engagement were identified,” the committee reported. It added that “operational challenges, such as a lack of local disaster preparedness plans and inadequate evacuation resources, hampered the emergency response process.”According to the report, other challenges included failed resettlement attempts, cultural resistance, and lack of consultation.

“The people lament that their opinions were not sought in selecting the sites for the resettlement, and therefore, have refused to relocate and are requesting that the resettlement project be halted as the objective is not served,” the report said.