Herbert Krapah pledges action on Akosombo Dam spillage impact mitigation

The Minister of State-Designate at the Energy Ministry, Herbert Krapah, has assured that the government is committed to mitigating the effects of the anticipated spillage from the Akosombo Dam.

This pledge comes as the Volta River Authority (VRA) prepares to engage with stakeholders on managing the excess water discharge.

During his vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, Mr. Krapah emphasised that the government has learned from the past.

The previous spillage, which caused significant damage in 2023, underscored the need for better preparedness and response strategies.

He acknowledged the importance of proactive measures and stakeholder engagement to address the challenges posed by the spillage.

Meanwhile, the Minority in Parliament staged a boycott of the vetting process for Mr. Krapah, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's nominee for Minister of State at the Energy Ministry.

President Akufo-Addo cited the heavy workload at the Ministry as the reason for Mr. Krapah's nomination, who is currently serving as a deputy minister in the same Ministry.

During the Appointments Committee sitting, Deputy Minority Leader Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah articulated the reasons behind the caucus' boycott.

He criticised the nomination process for lacking transparency and failing to publish the nomination in a national newspaper, thus denying the public an opportunity to submit memoranda or make representations to the Appointments Committee.

“The Minority Council has taken note of attempts by the majority side to short-circuit and circumvent the due process required in the venture of the President’s nominee for the position of Minister of State at the Ministry of Energy,” the Deputy Minority remarked.