VRA begins dredging Volta estuary at Ada

THE Volta River Authority (VRA) has commenced the dredging of the Volta estuary at Ada to enhance the socio-economic activities of the people of the area.
It is also intended to allow for the free flow of the Volta River into the sea in the event of excess water from the Akosombo and the Kpong dams to control or eliminate flooding in the lower Volta area.
Addressing the media at the project site, the acting Director of Corporate Services of the VRA, Ms Abla Fiadjoe, said the dredging formed part of the authority’s social responsibility to members of the communities who had been affected by the creation of the two dams.
She explained to the Daily Graphic in an interview that the project was also to manage the eco-system of the area and allow for more economic activities on the river.
“It is also to reduce the incidence of bilharzia among the inhabitants, particularly children and those who frequently come into contact with the river for any activity,” she added.
For his part, the acting Director of Environment and Sustainable Development, Mr Francis Atubra, explained that the creation of the Akosombo and the Kpong dams on the Volta River for the production of hydro-electric power slowed down the flow of the river into the sea at the estuary at Ada.
He said the dredging was, therefore, being carried out to remove the sand bar between the river and the sea at the estuary to allow for the free flow of water in both directions.
He said another purpose was to allow more sea water into the river to reduce aquatic weed infestation to a large extent and a substantial distance upstream.
Mr Atubra said the dredging, which is expected every four years, was first carried out in 1990 and again in 1996 and had not been done since.
“We have solved all the difficulties that prevented the VRA from dredging the river over the last 13 years and hope to make it regular from now,” he added.
At the dredging site, the Supervisor, Mr Ben Dorgbey, explained to reporters that the project was being executed in four parts and would take the VRA team four months to complete.
He explained that the dredging would create a channel covering a distance of three kilometres between the sea and the river and eight metres below water surface.
He said the dredging would also open up the numerous islands in the area to a number of economic activities, particularly tourism.