Weija Dam under threat of run-over

Weija, Nov. 12, GNA - Weija Dam, which supplies potable

water to over two million people in Accra is said to be under serious threat of run-over that could cause

destruction of lives and property because of illegal activities by

developers and stone winners. Encroachment on the Dam area has taken a different

dimension in recent times as developers and stone winners now

resort to the use of explosives (dynamites) to detonate the rocks

that served as protection to the dam. Water experts have therefore warned of possible danger and

predicted that the extent of destruction could spread and

submerge areas such as Odorkor and Dansoman which are

about 10 to 15 kilometers away from the dam, should the

run-over occur. Briefing the press on the situation on Monday during a tour, Mr Michael Amuakwa, Plant Manager at the Weija Water

Treatment Plant explained that the explosives, besides breaking

the mountains, also weakened the foundational structure of the

dam. He said people have defied several warnings not to build or

carry out any form of human activity within the catchment zone

despite the fact that they were aware that the land was the

property of the Ghana Water Company which belonged to the

government. Mr Amuakwa said because the stone quarrying had now

reached close to the banks of the dam, a lot of foreign materials

have entered it, which made it difficult to determine the level

and volume of water in the dam. He said the situation called for an immediate radical

intervention by all interested stakeholders to save the dam. "It is not just an eyesore, but a catastrophe. The unfortunate

thing is that the people living here do not even know the serious

health threat they are in case of a chlorine gas leakage," Mr Amuakwa said. Mr Ronald Abrahams, Programme Coordinator of the Water

Resources Commission said, "there is no substitute anywhere to

the Weija Water Treatment Plant therefore everything must be

done to protect it." He said so far, government had invested about three billion

Ghana Cedi in the plant operations, which supplied water to

strategic areas such as the Castle (seat of Government), Korle Bu

Teaching Hospital and Ridge Hospital. 12 Nov. 07