No compensation for encroachment — VRA cautions encroachers
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has stated that the government will not pay any compensation to anyone who builds within 280 feet of the Volta River.
It has, therefore, called on people living downstream of the dam to take note in order to avoid any infrastructure development in that catchment area.
“There is no compensation for encroachment, and all destruction within the 280-foot mark by the government will be at your own cost,” the VRA cautioned.
The VRA gave the caution at a day’s workshop on the VRA Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) for Communities Downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams for stakeholders at Asuogyaman District and Lower Manya Krobo Municipality at Atimpoku and Odumase-Krobo, respectively.
EPP
The VRA EPP identifies potential emergencies and outlines pre-planned actions to be followed to minimise property damage and loss of life. It also specifies the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in those communities.
In attendance were the officials of the two assemblies, chiefs, assembly members, opinion leaders and other stakeholders.
The participants were taken through emergencies, including the different phases of the spillage of the two dams.
The Manager of the Integrated Water Resources Management Section of the Water Resources and Renewable Department of VRA, Philip Tetteh Padi, explained that the EPP workshop formed part of VRA’s annual sensitisation activities for stakeholders downstream the Akosombo Dam all the way up to the estuary at Ada.
Mr Padi said that because of the location of the communities, they could face certain emergencies.
These emergencies, he said, could be classified into spill activities and dam break activities, stressing that the EPP outlines all the emergencies that could arise and the various stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities so that in the wake of any spill event or dam break, they would know what to do.
“This year, VRA has developed infographic materials that the assemblies can use for their educational activities. In addition, we have developed hazard and risk maps to show areas that are prone to flooding, and the various authorities will use them to regulate development downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.
“We are doing this so that people will not occupy the floodplains that are vulnerable to flooding anytime we spill,” Mr Padi explained.
No Spillage
Mr Padi, however, assured the general public, especially those along the downstream of the Volta River, that there would be no spillage this year as the water levels at the two dams were normal.
The Environmental Officer of VRA, Elsie Asante-Ankomah, in her presentation, said VRA was working to assist communities in identifying the 280-foot contour through the use of bamboo plantations, as there was a need to protect the 280-foot contour to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the Volta River system.
The preservation of the 280-foot contour demarcation requires a collective effort from everyone,” she stressed.
The Director, Environmental and Sustainable Development of VRA, Patrick Mireku, said he was happy about the fruitful discussions at the workshop, adding that it allowed the communities to support VRA to protect the dams for power generation.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Asuogyaman, Godwin Bobobee, urged the participants at the event to disseminate the information in their various communities in order to get the residents to help to protect the dams.
He said the Asuogyaman Assembly had put in place proactive measures, including public education, to particularly protect tourism potentials in the district.
The Community Development Officer of VRA, Rhoda Enyonam Arthur, encouraged the needy individuals in its catchment area to apply for the company’s scholarships as early as possible to meet the deadline.
