By Jones Anlimah
The Volta River Authority (VRA) has held a stakeholder workshop on its Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) and Environmental Management Plan in the Volta Region, with strong calls for stricter enforcement of environmental regulations and improved disaster readiness.
The workshop brought together regional authorities, district assemblies, security agencies, and community stakeholders to deliberate on strategies to mitigate the impact of dam-related emergencies and environmental degradation.
Welcoming participants, the Volta Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Avona Akape, stressed the importance of proactive planning, drawing lessons from past experiences.
“The tragic 2023 spillage taught us a painful but invaluable lesson. We cannot wait for disaster to strike before we act,” he said.
He emphasized that disaster preparedness remains a national priority, adding that government is working to strengthen early warning systems, decentralize emergency response, and ensure continuous operations of key services such as the National Ambulance and Fire Service.
The Director of Water Resources and Renewable Energy at VRA, Engineer Abdul Noor Wahab, explained that the Emergency Preparedness Plan focuses primarily on two major risks—controlled spillage and potential dam failure.
“The emergency preparedness plan puts together protocols… and outlines the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders,” he noted.
He added that the Authority is also concerned about increasing human activities along river channels and downstream areas.
“We have concerns with developments downstream of the dam, with people actually building within the river channels,” he said, warning that such practices alter land topography and increase flood risks.
A major issue highlighted during the workshop was illegal sand winning and the destruction of wetlands, as well as unregulated construction in flood-prone zones.
The District Chief Executive for Central Tongu, Adison Mornyuie Dodzie, revealed that authorities are already taking steps to address the problem.
“Their operation needs to be properly regulated… before they work, they need to take permits,” he said.
He disclosed that some sand winners operate illegally and have caused significant environmental damage.
“They go too deep into the earth and they are also destroying the ecosystem,” he explained.
Mr. Dodzie further noted that enforcement actions are underway, including collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to halt unauthorized activities.
He also raised concerns about indiscriminate building practices, which have worsened flooding in some communities.
“Some of the communities actually were not supposed to be affected, but because people built without permits… the spillage will surely affect them,” he stated.
He revealed that structures obstructing water flow will be earmarked for demolition.
“When it becomes necessary, we are going to pull down structures,” he warned.
Participants at the workshop called for stricter enforcement of land use regulations, better public education, and coordinated action among stakeholders to address environmental challenges.
The VRA reiterated that the annual engagement, held since 2011, is aimed at strengthening collaboration and ensuring that all institutions are prepared to respond effectively in the event of an emergency.
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Source:
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