Akosombo (E/R), Nov. 1, GNA - The Volta River Authority (VRA) on Monday opened the spillways of the Akosombo Dam to allow excess water in the reservoir to flow down stream.

The water level of the dam before the spillage was 277.07 feet, the highest ever recorded since the construction of the dam in 1961 with a maximum water level of 278 feet.

Three years ago, the dam recorded the lowest water level of 234.96 feet.

Four spillways out of the 12 were opened. The first gate was released at 0942 hours at the height of 4.5 feet.

The Akosombo Town Manager of the VRA, Mr Meister Afriyie said opening of the spillways would allow the dam to spill about 10,000 cubic feet of water per second.

He said engineers would be monitoring the water inflow into the dam to decide when to stop the exercise.

Mr Afriyie noted that the situation is not expected to have an effect on the people leaving down stream, because before the exercise the Kpong Water Head was reduced by one meter.

He said the VRA had dredged the estuary of the Volta River and cleared weeds along the water body down stream and so the excess water is expected to flow into the sea. The last time that the spillways of the Akosombo Dam was opened was in 1991.

Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, members of the Regional Security Council, Mr Kweku Awortwi, Chief Executive of VRA, officials of National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and Asuogyaman District Assembly witnessed the exercise.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said members of the Eco-Brigade and staff of NADMO have been stationed in communities along the river to monitor the effect of the spillage.