Akosombo, Dec 1, GNA - This year's award winning farmers, including eight women and 10 research officers, on Tuesday toured the Akosombo Dam and generating plant to see how the facility operates.

Mr Bernard Kofi Ellis, Senior Operations Engineer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), conducted the 63 award winners round. He told them that out of the six turbines that serve the generators, one had been shut down to allow major repair works to be carried out on generator three.

The turbines use 36,000 cubic tons of water per second to generate the country's electricity. Mr. Ellis said everything at the generating room is automatic and that, in the event of any hazard, the plant automatically shuts down.

The group was also shown the current water level of the dam, which was 263.24 feet (80.24 metres). At the Akosombo Port, Mr Martin Agbemabiesse, Assistant Director (Finance and Administration) of the Volta Lake Transport Company Limited (VLTCL), briefed the award winners on the operations of the company.

He said the VLTCL is a fully owned subsidiary of the VRA in charge of transport activities on the Lake. Mr Agbemabiesse said the company contributes a lot to the farmers' cause by transporting agricultural produce, building materials, and petroleum products between northern and southern Ghana.

The Farmers later went on an hour-and-a-half cruise on MV Dodi Princess and had a lunch hosted by the VRA on the Lake. During the cruise, Mr Kwame Agadzi, Head of Environmental Department of the VRA, briefed the group on the activities of his department.

It patrols the Lake 24 hours to ensure that the activities of farmers pose no danger to the Lake and its environs. Mr Agadzi called on farmers, especially those living along the Volta Lake, to advise their colleagues to desist from farming along the immediate slopes or using poisonous chemicals to fish.