Move now; we have no relief items – NADMO to Weija residents

Residents who live around the Weija Dam have been asked to relocate ahead of the spillage

A senior officer at the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in the Ga South municipality, Mr Divine Kodjo Waso, has told residents who live around the Weija Dam to relocate immediately ahead of the spillage of the dam since NADMO will not be able to provide help to any of them if they choose to stay.

The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) announced to the general public on Wednesday that it will soon open the Weija Dam to let out excess water, as part of routine measures to protect the dam from bursting.

The exercise is necessary due to the recent heavy rains.

The management of GWCL said the level of the water is rising and getting close to the maximum threshold of 47ft, hence the need to spill excess water.

“Management of GWCL, therefore, wishes to inform members of the general public as well as institutions or organisations who have properties downstream that the opening of the spillway gates may cause flooding,” the Chief Manager (PR) of GWCL, Mr Stanley Martey, said in a statement on Tuesday, 28 May 2019.

The utility provider has, therefore, advised the residents living close to the dam to move to prevent destruction to property and harm to any of them.

Some of the communities likely to be affected include Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Ada Kope, Tsokome and surrounding communities.

The management of GWCL said they have begun a house-to-house public education within the communities.

Mr Waso told journalists on Thursday, 30 May 2019 that: “The time is due for Water Works to spill the excess dam from now up to the end of August, so, whoever is living in this area or close to the dam, our advice to them is to move to higher grounds so that the water that will be spilt will not affect them or whatsoever.

“Wherever they are, if they’re hearing this advice, we plead with them; we don’t want to wait for the water to take anybody or destroy any property before they fall on NADMO or any government authority this time, NADMO is not having relief items to give [out]….”