The water channel that conveys excess water from the Weija Dam into the sea has become heavily choked with aquatic weeds and plastic waste, posing a major environmental and safety threat to residents within the Weija-Gbawe Municipality.
The channel, which runs from uphill Weija through to Tetegu, has one side almost completely blocked by dense vegetation and heaps of waste materials.
A visit by The Ghanaian Times revealed that the stretch near the Tetegu Junction Bridge on the Mallam–Kasoa Highway is heavily silted. During recent heavy downpours, the free flow of water through the channel was obstructed, heightening fears of possible flooding.
The situation becomes even more critical when the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) undertakes its annual spillage exercise from the Weija Dam.
Rising threat to lives and property
The Weija Dam, located on the Densu River, plays a crucial role in supplying potable water to a large section of the Greater Accra Region.
However, periodic spillages to regulate high water levels often result in flooding in surrounding communities, causing destruction to homes, loss of property, and, in some cases, fatalities and loss of livestock.
Some residents who spoke to The Ghanaian Times expressed deep concern that the situation could worsen if immediate measures were not taken to dredge the channel and remove the accumulated waste.
They attributed the recurring floods and their devastating effects to the failure of authorities to regularly dredge the tributaries of the Densu River and maintain the drainage systems designed to safely carry excess water into the sea.
“Every year, we go through the same thing. When they open the dam, our homes are flooded because the water cannot flow freely,” one resident lamented.
Calls for urgent action
The residents have appealed to the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly (WGMA), Ghana Water Limited, and the Ministry of Works and Housing to collaborate and undertake urgent dredging and clean-up exercises before the next major rainfall.
When contacted, the Communications Manager of GWL, Mr. Stanley Martey, clarified that managing and dredging the spill channel does not fall within the company’s operational mandate.
Meanwhile, a source at the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly told The Ghanaian Times that the assembly regularly undertakes dredging works along the channel.
According to the source, the aquatic weeds do not significantly contribute to flooding in the area. However, the matter would be reported to the department responsible for dredging to assess the extent of weed growth and take appropriate action.
By: Cecilia Yada Lagba
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The post Weeds choke Weija Dam spillway …Communities risk flooding appeared first on Ghanaian Times.
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