The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has established a seven-member ad-hoc committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the Akosombo Dam spillage, effective August 1, 2024.
The spillage, which occurred in October 2023, resulted in the displacement of thousands of people and caused significant destruction to properties, livestock, and farmlands.
In a formal communication to the house on Tuesday, Mr. Bagbin outlined the committee’s terms of reference to ensure accountability.
The committee is tasked to:
Establish the circumstances leading to the spillage of excess water from the Akosombo Dam.
Evaluate the preparedness and response of the Volta River Authority and other relevant bodies.
Assess the impact of the spillage on affected communities and the adequacy of the relief efforts.
Review the protocols and methodologies considered best practices globally for regulating dam spillage.
Make recommendations to the house on how to avert and minimize future disasters.
These measures aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of the incident and ensure better preparedness and response strategies in the future.
