VRA prepares national emergency plan for Akosombo and Kpong dams

Accra, Jan. 20, GNA - The Volta River Authority (VRA) is preparing an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) to identify, prevent and limit casualties that may arise from potential dam failures at Akosombo and Kpong.

The plan, when documented, is expected to form part of the broader Environmental Management Plan for the Akosombo and Kpong dams as required by the Environmental Protection Law in the country and international standard of operations. Speaking at a day's workshop organized by the VRA for stakeholders on Wednesday in Accra, Mr. Kweku Andoh Awotwi, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, said a Dutch-Norway firm, Royal Haskoning-Norplan, had been contracted to undertake consultancy services for preparation of the EPP.

"Emergency situations may be due to operational or other safety reasons and in such situations, time and speed are of essence to protect lives and property," he said, adding that it was important to have in place adequate procedural steps to mitigate adverse impacts. Mr. Awotwi said the International Commission on Large Dams and World Commission on Dams, bodies that promote best practices for the operation of large dams, of which VRA is a member, recommend the development of EPPs to document and outline pre-planned actions to be taken in case of any emergency for large dams like Akosombo and Kpong. "Such plans would also be very useful to guide all stakeholders including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces and National Disaster Management Organisation on the appropriate steps to be taken in emergencies and is now a requirement by International Funding Agencies such as the World Bank," he said.

Mr. Awotwi said preparation of EPP did not indicate that the country's two main dams were in any danger of failure but the plan was required in accordance with best practices in the dam industry and the Environmental Protection laws as well.

"The Emergency Preparedness Plans will therefore identify the possible emergency situations and recommend appropriate measures to be taken to minimize the loss of lives or danger to property if emergencies do occur," he said. 2