Akosombo Dam Spillage: Going forward an L.I would be needed to protect flood zones – Ing Kirk Koffi

Chairman of the Akosombo Dam Spillage Committee, Ing. Kirk Koffi has urged government to introduce a Legislative Instrument (L.I.) to prevent people from putting up structures in flood zones in communities following the Akosombo Dam spillage.

Speaking in an interview on TV3’s Hot Issues, May 11, 2025, Ingineer Koffi underscored the need for District Assemblies, NADMO and traditional leaders in these flood zone communities to stop encroachment of areas marked as flood zones in the communities affected by the spillage.

He said while an L.I. would be needed and processes may take a while, in the interim, District Assemblies and traditional leaders must assume the responsibility of protecting these flood zones in communities to prevent future occurrence of the disaster.

“People are aware of the flood zones but have been encroaching. So between VRA, NADMO and the Assemblies and the Chiefs make sure these flood zones are properly protected.

“An legislative Instrument would be needed to help enforce that properly so that nobody stays within the flood zones.

“But before the L.I comes, nothing prevents the District Assemblies, those who give the permit for people to build their houses at any location. It is up to them to ensure that nobody puts up any permanent structure within the flood zones,” he explained.

A five-member committee tasked by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor to investigate the circumstances leading to the spillage of water from the Akosombo Dam, has asserted that the exercise was a necessary evil.

This is among other findings made by the committee in a 126-page report submitted to the Minister on May 7.

“The spillage was primarily caused by releasing approximately 8 MAF volumes of water from the Akosombo Dam to prevent the dam’s destruction (overtopping) due to high reservoir water levels. Other contributing factors included unprecedented rainfall due to climate change and human activities exacerbating flood risks. Breaching the dam could have resulted in a catastrophic chain of events in the country,” a portion of the report signed by Chairman of the Committee, Ing. Kirk Koffi reads.

“While there were efforts to provide immediate assistance, gaps in communication, resource allocation, and community engagement were identified,” the report further revealed.

The 2023 dam spillages in Akosombo and Kpong displaced nearly 40,000 people across Ghana’s Volta Region. The worst-affected areas identified were North Tongu, Central Tongu, South Tongu, Ada and Kpong jurisdictions.

The floods destroyed structures, with an estimated 1,247 homes, 94 schools and 17 health facilities brought down by the waters, as economic losses are projected at $78 million in agricultural damage alone.

The post Akosombo Dam Spillage: Going forward an L.I would be needed to protect flood zones – Ing Kirk Koffi first appeared on 3News.

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