The Volta River Authority (VRA) has begun major disinfection and fumigation exercises in some affected communities of the Akosombo Dam spillage following a recession of floods in the area.
This initiative follows the announcement on a controlled spillage of excess water in the Akosombo Dam, which led to floods in the some communities in the Eastern and Volta Regions, beginning on September 15, 2023, and ending on October 30, 2023, claiming properties and livelihoods along with displacing people in the affected areas.
In an engagement with the media, VRA’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinato, Ing. Kwame Osei Mensah Darkwa emphasized on the VRA’s commitment to working hand in hand with the Assembly to fumigate, disinfect, and inspect the safety of structures in affected areas where floods have receded, prioritizing Mepe, in the North Tongu District.
“And so, as a matter of urgency, we start the work with the Mepe area, where the extent of inundation was quite pronounced,” he said.
Continually, he explained that the exercise will be important to ensure that, displaced communities are restored to a safe community and avoid health implications.
“The water in terms of the spillage has receded significantly and most of the areas are very dry and we can actually walk through them and inspect certain houses and so we did a quick walkie with the Assembly, the Traditional Council, with the health inspector of the Assembly and realized that most of the communities were dry and people had started going back to stay in their respective residents and so VRA has decided to start a decontamination exercise so that those who go there will live in a safe environment and are not exposed to health hazards.”
He further mentioned that districts affected by the dam spillage will be fumigated as well, when it becomes necessary.
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Story by : Vanessa Nyasi Mensah | univers.ug.edu.gh
