In response to last year's devastating Akosombo dam spillage, the Volta River Authority (VRA) has ramped up community engagement efforts as a precautionary measure against potential future spills.

Expecting high water volumes, the VRA plans to release water at a rate of 50,000 cubic feet per second, which falls within phase one of the spill plan.

This discharge is expected to largely remain within the river channel.

Benjamin Sackey, the VRA's Director of Environment and Sustainable Development, revealed these plans during an emergency preparedness meeting for Ada East and West districts.

"This year, we're anticipating high inflows. By starting early, we aim to prevent the extreme volumes and high outflows we experienced last time," he stated.

"However, this is only a prediction based on models. If necessary, we are prepared. It's also possible the actual volumes could exceed our expectations."

Mr Sackey assured that any spills would be carefully controlled to prevent disaster.

"The dam has a limit. If water levels rise too high, we must release it to avoid the dam breaking, which would be catastrophic for the entire country."

Joy News reports that not all downstream municipalities and districts will be affected by a precautionary spill.

Areas that might experience minimal impact include Ada East in the Greater Accra region, and Keta Municipality, North, South, and Central Tongu, and Anloga districts in the Volta region.

Mr Sackey noted that according to VRA’s models, any spill would minimally affect those with structures extended into or living along the river, as most of the water would remain within its channel.

For instance, Ada East’s islands, already prone to high tides, would not see significantly different impacts from a precautionary spill.

During the meeting, the need for safe havens for affected residents was highlighted.

Learning from last year’s floods, the VRA is constructing shelters, starting in Central Tongu, with plans to expand across other regions.

Benjamin Sackey urged attendees to disseminate the information shared, emphasizing, "Do not keep this information to yourself.

"If an issue arises later, people might claim ignorance, but the VRA will have proof of informing the community, avoiding a repeat of last year's misunderstandings."

When questioned about the timing of the precautionary spill, Mr Sackey assured that the VRA would provide timely updates, stressing that the focus is on safety measures rather than the spill itself.

The meeting was attended by stakeholders, including traditional authorities, security agencies, opinion leaders, market queens, and the Environmental Protection Agency.