Water level above crises line

Akosombo (E/R), Oct. 3, GNA - Mr Kwesi B. Amoako, Plant Manager of the Akosombo Generating Plant of the Volta River Authority (VRA), told water experts on Saturday that, the dam has risen above the crisis boarder line of 235 feet to 240 feet.

He said, Ghana would only enter emergency period should the dam level falls below 235 feet, adding that, the current power rationalisation should be welcomed by all Ghanaians and for that reason, "we should pray that rainfall occurs at the catchments area in order that the current level of 240ft shoots up".

The experts visit was to round off a three-day Regional Workshop on inter basin water transfer for policy makers in Africa.

The participants from 20 African countries as well as representatives from the United Nations, Lake Victoria Basin Authority, Lake Chad Authority, Environmental Protection Agency and the Volta River Authority of Ghana.

It was hosted by the Ghana Water Research Institute and sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa. Answering a question as to why spilled water cannot be redirected back into the lake, he said the typography of the area would demand thrice the energy being generated at the moment. Instead, Mr Amoako proposed that, it would be better to build more dam for hydro-electricity.