On Thursday, the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) will begin an exercise simulating a dam spill.
The "Da woho so" exercise is a component of the VRA's emergency preparedness plan (EPP) for the Akosombo and Kpong dams and aims to improve the state agencies' capacity to respond to crises brought on by the discharge of a sizable volume of water from the dams.
The exercise will comprise a complete evacuation, search and rescue efforts, as well as mandatory and voluntary evacuations, and it will take place in the Asuogyaman, North Tongu, and Ada East districts—three of the nine areas most likely to sustain significant damages in the unlikely case of a dam spill.
State security agencies, the National Ambulance Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the North Dakota National Guard, and the US Embassy, which are supplying technical support and training, will all be participating in the comprehensive exercise.
Significance
A Deputy Chief Executive of the VRA, Edward Obeng-Kenzo, stated that while severe spills or dam breaks were unlikely to occur owing to the company's effective maintenance system, it was nevertheless vital to prepare for potential eventualities during an event yesterday in Accra ahead of the exercise.
He said that "it is necessary to prepare for the worst effects of climate change" and that a dam failure would certainly affect more than 300,000 people.
According to Mr. Obeng-Kenzo, the increased frequency and intensity of floods, to which he claimed the Akosombo and Kpong dams were physically exposed, are making climate change and its effects visible in the nation and throughout the world.
According to him, the government had created a national adaptation strategy that included strengthening vulnerable populations' resistance to risks associated with climate change and developing infrastructure that was climate-resilient.
In addition, a number of renewable energy projects are being installed, such as the 50 MW solar plant at Bui, the 6.5 MW VRA solar plant at Lawra, and the 28 MW VRA solar plant at Kaleo.
"Others include starting the construction of about 35 new minigrids and implementing the nation's nuclear power program, which is the main source of baseload power."
an early warning
Disasters can be avoided, according to NADMO Director-General Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, by using early warning systems like simulation exercises and the creation of effective response mechanisms.
He praised the VRA for upholding the constitution by creating disaster preparedness and response plans in compliance with Law 216 (Act 927), which mandates that all agencies replicate their plans in conjunction with NADMO.
"Continuous drills of this kind will increase our local communities' preparation and resilience."
"Gaps in disaster preparedness and response will also be identified, and the capacity of response agencies, including NADMO, to manage and reduce disaster risk will be increased," Nana Prempeh continued.
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