VRA dredges estuary of River Volta at Ada

Ada Foah (GAR), April 23, GNA - In order to allow the free flow of the Volta River at its estuary, the Volta River Authority (VRA) is undertaking a series of dredging activities at its Dredging Station at Ada Foah in the Dangme East of the Greater Accra Region, where the estuary is located.

The Estuary Dredging Project, which is aimed at breaking down an "island" built by heaps of sand at the estuary would cost about GH¢500,000, It is being solely sponsored by the VRA and dredging would be completed in two months.

Addressing the press, Mr Francis Attubrah, Director of Environment and Sustainable Development Department of the VRA, said the "island" was created because of the construction of the Akosombo and the Kpong Dams on the Volta River for hydro-electric power. "This project has caused the lowering of flow of the river into the sea at the estuary at Ada and led to the heaping of sand at the estuary," he added.

He noted that since the Dredging Station was created in 1990, the VRA had maintained a dredging programme at the estuary of the River aimed at restoring the estuary's ecosystem to an appreciable level and also reduced the incidence of bilharzia among the inhabitants at the banks of the river.

"The dredging will also aid free flow of the Volta River into the sea in the event of spilling of excess water from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams, boost the salinity level of the River to reduce aquatic weed infection and also improve upon the socio-economic activities of the inhabitants."

Mr Ben Dorgbey, Dredge Supervisor of the VRA, said that the dredge would be eight metres deep from the surface of the sea. 23 April 09