Akosombo Dam Spillage – VRA must do more to avert future Lower Volta flood damage [Article]

With very high inflows into the Volta Lake, the VRA triggered its Emergency Preparedness Plan and Standard Operating Procedures, including the commencement of controlled spilling of excess water from the Akosombo Dam.

The flooding is because VRA has had to open the spillways of the Akosombo dam to let out, quickly, excess water raising the water level in the Volta Lake behind the dam, as IT IS VERY IMPORTANT that the safety of the Akosombo dam is maintained, by never allowing the water level in the Volta Lake to go above the designed maximum lake level of 278.0 feet.

Managing level of water in the Volta Lake

The VRA has done a fairly good job managing the water level in the Volta Lake.

From literature, the maximum lake water level ever recorded was 277.54 feet on 8th November 2010 (source VRA).

The VRA based on its main objective of optimum generation of power, would definitely aim to ensure that it releases just the right quantity of excess water and to close spillway gates at the right time to ensure that lake water levels remain very close to the maximum water level

This year, it appears responding to the rising lake water level and opening the spillway gates on September 15, 2023 was inadequate and too late