By Bawanke David
In the wake of recent sustained rains, the Volta River Authority (VRA) has intensified public information dissemination, outreach and community education in its catchment areas around the Volta Lake. In areas where dam operations affect people more directly, the likelihood of water levels rising, has given the VRA cause to reaffirm its commitment to a closer collaboration with lake communities such as Krachi, Dambai, Yeji, and others. At an “Environment Management Plan Stakeholders Engagement” in the Krachi West Municipality, VRA announced an improved Dam spillage alert system.
The new “VRA Community Alert System” will push real-time updates through WhatsApp platforms, local radio and use of town criers to keep residents informed. The Volta River Authority session in the Krachi West Municipality which forms part of VRA’s statutory mandate to review and update its Environment Management Plan for the Volta Lake and surrounding areas, brought together traditional leaders, district assembly officials, fisherfolk, farmers, youth groups, and civil society organizations. As part of efforts to address persistent fears over flooding, shoreline erosion, and the impact on farming and fishing communities along the lake, VRA officials broke down the technical process behind water releases or spillage from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams especially.
Stakeholders raised concerns about dwindling fish stocks, loss of farmlands to lake encroachment, and the urgent need for alternative livelihoods. In response, VRA pledged to scale up its Community Development Programme with more support for aquaculture, irrigation schemes, and youth development.
The Authority also outlined steps to clamp down on illegal sand winning, logging, and waste dumping along the lake’s bank. VRA is to partner with local assemblies to roll out tree planting and restore degraded shorelines. The Municipal Chief Executive for Krachi West, Hon. Prosper Kwaku Addo, cautioned people against settling within the 280-foot corridor of the lake, stressing that, they do so at their own risk. According to him, government will not compensate encroachers.
He however called for a special development fund to support communities directly affected by VRA operations while the Senior Officer for Corporate Affairs and External Relations at VRA Madam Rhoda Arthur, expressed worry over the seeming increase in settlements too close to the lake. She noted that high water levels pose a serious risk to life and property in such communities in spite of VRA’s best efforts to avoid occurrences that treathen lives and property .
