The chairman of the committee investigating the devastating September 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage, Ing. Isaac Kirk Koffi, has highlighted human settlement in flood-prone areas and gaps in inter-agency coordination as critical factors behind the widespread destruction.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Friday, Ing. Koffi, a former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), emphasized that while the dam itself remained structurally intact, poor planning and communication contributed significantly to the disaster’s severity.
Human Settlement in High-Risk Zones
“People living in flood zones both upstream and downstream of the dam were among the hardest hit,” Koffi said, calling for a legally enforced buffer zone to prevent future encroachment into high-risk areas. “There should be a Legislative Instrument (LI) to protect these areas and reduce the risk of human casualties in future spillages,” he added.
Technical and Operational Gaps
Koffi also pointed to technical challenges, noting that while the VRA managed to open the dam gates successfully, the volume of water released was overwhelming. “The inflow was more than expected, and this volume, combined with the existing human settlements, created a perfect storm,” he explained.
Lack of Effective Coordination
The former VRA boss also highlighted deficiencies in stakeholder coordination, which, he argued, compounded the crisis. “There were gaps in the Emergency Preparedness Plan and overall communication among the agencies involved,” Koffi noted, stressing the need for a more integrated response framework.
The committee, formed by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, on March 14, 2025, is expected to submit its findings soon, offering recommendations to prevent a repeat of the disaster.
