Security lapses at the Akosombo Dam - Report

The Akosombo Dam is the fulcrum around which the entire economy of Ghana revolves. With an installed capacity of 1,020 megawatts and the cheapest energy generating plant in the country, the economy of Ghana will crash should something untoward happen to the generating plants at the hydro dam.

In fact, until 1983 when Ghana suffered a severe drought, none of our leaders had thought of getting alternative sources of power to complement that of Akosombo. Even with the avalanche of thermal plants we have constructed since then, the Akosombo Dam can simply not be taken out of our energy mix and still expect the efficient supply of power to industries and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth.

It is based on this that security at the dam is always tight because it is our lifeblood. The Chronicle is, however, alarmed over certain developments at the dam, which, if not checked and stopped immediately, could pose a serious threat to the survival of this nation in future. Following our recent publication that the ‘Akosombo Dam could be a ticking time bomb’, management of the plant decided to wheel journalists to the dam site to assure the nation through them (journalists) that the dam was in a healthy condition.

But, whilst the journalists were being taken around, it was discovered that some fishermen were fishing right under the spillway of the dam. When the journalists complained about the development, they were told by managers of the dam that they have always been warning these fishermen, but they have refused to heed the advice.

To call a spade a spade and not a big spoon, The Chronicle can state without any equivocation that whoever is responsible for the safety of the dam has failed in his or her duty of protecting it. Obviously, managers of the strategic state asset have come to a rather dangerous conclusion that these fishermen are harmless and cannot do anything to compromise the safety of the dam.

In this modern-day and era, where terrorism has become an albatross hanging on the neck of every nation, that primitive way of thinking should not be countenanced.

We, at The Chronicle, also believe that no Ghanaian who has the nation at heart would dare make any attempt to comprise the safety of the Akosombo Dam. We cannot, therefore, wickedly accuse our gallant fishermen in the area of planning, let alone, executing any idea of destroying the dam.

This does not, however, mean we should allow them to fish right under the spillway. May God forbid, but if any terrorist has the intention of blowing up the dam, he would not fly sophisticated planes to the area to drop bombs. He or she would look at the loopholes in the security of the dam and exploit them. In this case, they can conveniently pose as fishermen, paddle their canoes close to the generating plants, and detonate whatever explosives they have.

This is the reason why we are warning the Volta River Authority (VRA) not to entertain any fisherman who comes to the spillway of the dam to fish. As we have already indicated, the Ghanaian fisherman would never conceive any wicked idea of blowing up the dam, but those who may be plotting to bring down this country of ours to its knees can take advantage of the situation to execute the agenda.

The VRA must, therefore, wake up from its slumber and institute the needed security measures, including barring all fishing activities in or around the spillway. In this way, we may be ahead of those who are contemplating of causing any harm to the dam, otherwise...