Weija dam spillage poses no threat yet – NADMO Boss
Mr Kofi Portuphy, National Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has inspected the Weija Dam site to ascertain the level of spillage in the area.
Other communities he visited included Oblogo, Adakofe, Tetegu, Old and New Weija, as well as Togo mountain quarry site along the Kasoa main road and Donkunaa.
Mr Portuphy, who was accompanied by Mr Jerry Thompson, Municipal Chief Executive of Ga South, said the spillage had not caused any form of disaster since it was being controlled to prevent flooding in surrounding communities around the dam.
He indicated that the dam needs to be spilled because the water level had risen to 48 ft, which was the normal limit to contain the water.
At the time of the visit, the water had reduced to 47.3 ft because only two spillage gates were opened for the exercise.
He noted that over the years when spill ways were opened, the whole area got flooded but due to the control measures, spillage had not caused any havoc but was quick to add that people living in the area would have to be evacuated when the need arises for more spillage gates to be opened.
The NADMO boss expressed concern about buildings that were springing up around the dam site whilst miners were still cracking stones around the area, a situation he said, might cause a landslide if care was not taken.
He pointed out that NADMO did not have relief items to supply disaster victims with but had to focus on preventive measures hence the need for disaster risk reduction that were being undertaken by the organisation.
He said NADMO was making strides to open up more water channels in areas that usually get flooded when the spill gates are opened, through the provision of excavators and bulldozers to the Ga south Assembly to prepare the community towards this year’s rains, to curb a disaster.
Mr Portuphy said more education needs to be done to reduce such disasters, and that, the dredging had controlled the spillage and had stopped the river from overflowing its banks into the communities.
At Adakofe, the NADMO boss said though some farms were affected by the spillage, it did not affect homes, but was quick to add that the cutting earth drains at old Weija helped to that effect.
Mr Jerry Thompson commended NADMO for their quick response as well as providing the Assembly with excavation machines such as bulldozers and excavators to dredge parts of the dam, contributing to the safety of the area.
The MCE said the Assembly was concerned about the mining activities on the hill side and had received assistance from the Minerals Commission to withdraw the licenses of some mining companies operating in the area, adding that, the assembly would arrest culprits to deter others.
He also expressed concern about land guards, whose activities were worrying and requested the assistance of the military to undertake an exercise to stop them.
Mr Thompson said a footbridge was under construction for pedestrians, especially school children and also to serve as a link between the new and old Weija communities and was hopeful that the project would be completed in about two months.
Mr Wise Ametefe, a Hydro Engineer from the Hydrological Department explained that the Donkunaa site along the Kasoa-SCC road was also under construction to pave way for water that flows from the hills into the community.
Mr Ametefe said the dredging channels that would link up to the main road would pave way for water to flow freely and stressed that the Donkunaa channel must be made permanent to avoid future flooding.
He described the Tetegu area as a wet land, hence construction of a dyke for easy passage of water into the main stream.
Mr Joseph Ankrah, Officer in charge of Geological disaster at NADMO described the Weija quarry site as an earthquake zone and that the earth around was not strong enough for quarry activities to continue, since it could even cause a landslide.
He said residents were already feeling its devastating effect because any time it rains, the soil washes onto the main road and this could cause an accident.
Mr Ankrah appealed to residents to be aware of health hazards such as respiratory diseases due to the dust and said the situation was unfortunate since children had been exposed to such risks as well.
Source: GNA