Residents of the Weija Dam's downstream section have been advised to leave immediately by the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in order to avoid flooding that could result from the dam's opening to release extra water.
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) started the dam spill last Saturday, and according to NADMO, the start of the rainy season would increase the amount of water in the dam, forcing authorities to open the gates to prevent it from collapsing.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, NADMO's Municipal Director, Emmanuel Adu-Boahen, stated that the warning was intended to prevent a repetition of situations last year when Weija and, due to the increased volume of water, significant flooding occurred in the area when the dam's water spilled.
One person died as a result of this, while several properties worth millions of Ghana cedis were destroyed.
We don't want to be overrun by circumstances, so knowledge and care are necessary, according to Mr. Adu-Boahen.
GWCL's advice
The GWCL issued an early notice last Friday that it would conduct a spillage operation to permit extra water in the dam to flow out.
Therefore, it issued a warning to residents living downstream of the dam to exercise caution.
"As of Friday, April 28, 2023, the dam's level is 46 feet, 1 foot (ft), below the 47-foot maximum safe operating level."
The dam levels are checked hourly, and should the level rise over 46.5 feet, the GWCL will not hesitate to open the spill gates in order to preserve the integrity of the dam and prevent any catastrophe.
According to the report, Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Adakope, and other settlements might all be impacted by the dam's water release.
The business has opened the dam as planned in the meantime.
preventative measures
The head of Weija-Gbawe NADMO also stated that, as a precaution, the organization had established seven safe havens and persuaded the municipal assembly to destroy buildings near waterways.
He reiterated that NADMO has started teaching and notifying community residents about the opening of the dam and the necessity to evacuate to higher lands through the different information centers.
In order to ensure that water can flow freely into the sea, the estuary would also be opened.
The GWCL, Greater Accra Regional NADMO, the Weija-Gbawe NADMO, the Ga South Municipal Assembly NADMO, and the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly authorities will meet to devise alternative plans in the event of flooding, Mr. Adu-Boahen further hinted. "But that will be the last intervention after assessing the situation when it arises," he added.
Safe places
The locations where the safe havens had been established were listed by Mr. Adu-Boahen as the Devine Grace School at SCC, the Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly, the Pentecost Prayer Camps at Tetegu and SCC, Choice, Top Base, and Gbawe.
He added, "So if something happens today, we carry people to these places," and he urged civic-minded groups and individuals to work to help the institution so that it can fulfill its mission of protecting lives and property.
Following that, he explained, "we would go to the estuary to assess the situation, and that would inform our decision as to whether or not to open it."
water volume
As of yesterday (May 2), according to the head of the Weija-Gbawe NADMO, the level of the dam's opening at gates two and four was the initial 46.4-foot level as of last Saturday and Sunday, which had dropped to 46.3 ft.
Yes, the spillage exercise has started, and Mr. Adu-Boahen emphasized that so far there hasn't been a problem.
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