Residents Of Weija-Gbawe Lament Spillage From Weija Dam With No Ample Notice

Some residents of Weija-Gbawe in the Greater Accra Region are worried over the decision by the Ghana Water Company Limited GWCL to spill excess water from the Weija Dam after last Saturday’s downpour. The rains over the weekend displaced residents in the surrounding communities due to flooding. In statement, the company indicated that the spillage which began on

Sunday, October 11, 2020, is to prevent the dam from possible collapse while protecting residents. “The safe operating level of the Weija Dam is 47ft, however, the heavy rains shot the dam level from 46.8ft to 48.4ft in less than 24 hours, prompting the spillage immediately to prevent it from possible collapse,” the GWCL explained in a statement. The affected communities

include Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Ada Kopey and surrounding communities. But the Tetegu Community’s Town Planning Organizer, Mawuenyega Mark Atukpa, who spoke on behalf of the residents told the media the failure of the company to give residents enough notice to prepare for the spillage and its accompanying floods

is a major source of worry. “The information didn’t come early. If the information had come earlier, the people would have prepared adequately because when these things happen, people are displaced. So for us, we are worried.” “Secondly, when they are about to spill water from the dam they have to check if the sand level

in the river will allow for the free flow of water or the estuary is opened. But they don’t do that. They just come and tell us they are spilling and there is always trouble,” he lamented. Following the development, the residents have appealed for storm drains to help with the drainage of run-off water.

MCE assures of construction of proper drains to curb flooding

The Weija-Gbawe Municipal Assembly says plans are in place for the construction of wider drains along the streets of Weija to address the perennial flooding in the area. The Municipal Chief Executive for Weija Gbawe, Patrick Kumor, has noted that the government is committed to ending the recurrent flooding in the municipality.