By Dominic Hlodzi & Mabel Annang
A study conducted by the Global Center on Adaptation, GCA and the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation has revealed that fifty-four percent of dams in the country are exposed to floods while twenty-three percent will suffer droughts under a high-hazard climate risk situation by 2050.
The report observed that the Akosombo hydroelectric power plant with 1020 MW generation capacity and serving more than 8.6 million people will be affected by exposure to high drought intensity.
This includes the location of the power plant as well as a part of the Lake Volta reservoir which supplies the plant.
This, the GCA notes, poses an increased risk of reduced river flow and a reduction in reservoir capacity, which reduces generation capacity.
There have been several periods of severe electricity rationing in the country attributed to low water levels in the reservoir, which reduced generation capacity to about one-third of its potential.
Another major dam which stands the risk of high-intensity drought hazard over climate change conditions is the Kpong Dam.
The GCA in the report asserts that the Kpong Dam which is further downstream, is affected by this same level of drought hazard in addition to flooding.
The report titled “Ghana: Roadmap for Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate” said the Sunon-Asogli thermal power plant at Tema is exposed to river flooding hazards and is also likely to be vulnerable to coastal flooding from sea-level rise and increased storm surge owing to its location near the coast.
Other prioritised power plants exposed to river flooding include the 400 MW Bui dam and the 360 MW Cenpower plant in the Tema industrial zone.