The continued overflow of the Akosombo Dam, according to the National President of Environmental Health Officers Ghana, Yaw Akwaa Lartey, should be regarded as a national emergency problem.
He stated that, even though seven districts have been affected, the negative consequences are numerous, and we must take steps to solve them.
He warned of the possibility of an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
He stated that the flooding crisis has resulted in tainted water due to the flooding of toilet facilities and cemeteries.
He maintained that the terrible situation demands urgent attention.
Speaking in an interview on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm, Yaw Akwaa Lartey appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians to help ameliorate the danger.
He said even at the relief centres where those who were rescued are being kept, we could have the speed of typhoid faster among the affected victims.
“The implications for public health are that it will trigger water-related diseases, skin rashes, diarrhoea, typhoid, Cholera and so on. It is a serious crisis which ought to be treated as a national emergency. Seven districts were affected but we have to treat the situation as a national emergency. The situation has contaminated the water and so I will encourage authorities and other persons to provide the victims with portable drinking water all the time.”
He commended the health directorate and health professionals for their efforts.
He recommended that when the disaster is resolved, authorities including environmental heat practitioners, officials from the FDA and others embark on exercises to dispose of all contaminated water in the affected areas and provide them with new ones.
The Volta River Authority began a controlled spill from the Akosombo and Kpong Dams on September 15, 2023.
This occurred owing to severe rainfall in the Volta River watershed, which caused the water level at Akosombo Dam to rise quickly.
As a result, the spillage was required to keep the dam from overtopping and to safeguard the dam’s integrity.
However, by early October, the water level had continued to rise fast, exceeding the maximum operating level of 276 feet.
VRA increased the spill rate beginning October 9, 2023, in response to heavy rainfall and a continued rise in the water level.
Increased flooding occurred in several communities in the North, South, and Central Tongu Districts, as well as the Ada East District.
By: Rashid Obodai Provencal/Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
