When I was growing up in the central business district of Accra, I was fond of playing games- both indoor and outdoor.

The outdoor ones included; football, which was not my favorite, bicycle riding, ‘Charles kele’, ‘tuumatu’, and ‘alukoto’ and ‘dicos’- played with those long sardine can openers. Ludo, draught, playing cards or spar, as we called it, monopoly, scrabbles, ‘oware’ and Snakes and Ladders were the indoor ones.

While I loved playing Snakes and Ladders, the possibility of being bitten by a snake when one has virtually reached the point of winning the game made me hate it too. What made it even more loathly is that, there is a particular snake whose bite takes you all the way to the beginning of the game. Frustration, shame and teasing become your portion among your peers. That is, if you are unable to land on any of the ladders that would propel you back to the top, sooner than later.

During those childhood years, I did not know that whoever designed the concept of the Snakes and Ladders game had in mind, a subtle way of preparing our young minds to the fact that life is full of ups and downs. Having been around for some time now, I fully appreciate the real snakes and ladders in life- one day you are on top, next day you are at the bottom. It is unfair, but such is life.

The spillage of water from the Akosombo and Kpong dams

Yes. Life is such that no matter how careful and strategic you are in your doings, things happen that throw you off from the path that you have so carefully charted for yourself. It hurts when it is a force majeure or natural disaster. It hurts more if that happening is no fault of yours. Even more, if it is due to the negligence of someone else or an entity.

And it is so agonizing if it is caused by an organsiation full of engineers. That is because they are supposed to make things happen. Information available on their website says, “The Volta River Authority (VRA) was established on April 26, 1961 with the mandate to generate, transmit and distribute electricity under the Volta River Development Act, Act 46 of the Republic of Ghana.

The VRA has diversified its power generation portfolio to take advantage of available and sustainable sources of energy, mainly hydro, and natural gas and renewables. The two main hydro plants, Akosombo and Kpong Generating Stations both located on the Volta River have 1,020MW and 160MW respectively.”

Since I became aware of and followed national issues about four decades ago, the only means by which the VRA has gotten rid of excess water from the dams is to spill. Information available indicate that water from the dam was spilled in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974 and 1991. The last spillage of water was done in 2010.

Expectedly, the spilled water causes huge damage to property and displaces human beings from their homes. Large hectares of farm lands are submerged, resulting in destruction of crops. Peoples’ sources of livelihood are carried away by the flood and rendered impoverished.

Anytime this issue comes, up, what I ask myself is, if this country was the United Kingdom or United States of America, would they not have found another way of ridding the dams of excess water? Can’t the excess water be channeled somewhere that it can be of use rather than unleashed on residents of communities along the Volta River? I can bet my last dollar that America will not spill water on its people and hope that they will be fine. Even natural disasters, they are planning against them.

On our part, we seem to be at our wits end. So, anytime the need arises, we do our Public Relations best by forewarning the inhabitants along the Volta River to self-evacuate. The question is, to where?

So it came to pass that on September 12, 2023, the VRA, in preparation towards the spillage of water from the two dams, issued a press release to alert residents along the Volta River and downstream to take the necessary precautionary measures before time. The VRA said the spillage had become necessary because the reservoir levels cannot contain the consistent rise of the water level.

“The Reservoir level as of today suggests that we may need to commence controlled spilling in the coming days should the situation persist. In line with our Emergency Preparedness Plan and Standard Operating Procedures, the Volta River Authority has duly notified its key stakeholders. Spillage of water from the Akosombo dam is expected to continue until the excess inflows in the lake recede,” the VRA forewarned in September and left it at that.

Speaking to journalists on Thursday, October 12, 2023, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the VRA, Mr Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa reiterated the earlier explanation, “It is normal at this time of the year for us to experience inflows. The difference is that we are getting more than expected and to safeguard this dam means that we have to spill water. That is the standard operation for any hydro dam. Definitely, as the cycle goes through, this will recede. So, we are hoping it will recede.”

Hoping!!! - a feeling of expectation and desire for a particular thing to happen? It means they don’t even have a plan to expedite the recession of the water. Hmm!

The government who we pay taxes to, in return for protection etc, did not see the need to direct its agencies to the communities that risk being inundated by the spilled water to simulate a worst-case scenario and plan accordingly. There was no risk assessment whatsoever. Instead, we all sat aloof hoping and praying that when the water spillage is done, the devastation will be minimal as usual. We will then distribute food and blankets to the displaced persons and return to business as usual.

Unfortunately for us, our lack of planning and foresight has resulted in a man-made disaster of the magnitude that has caused 26,000 of our compatriots’ homes, farms, businesses and other properties.

As I watched videos on the extent of devastation, I could not help but ask myself, what if I lived here? This question was provoked when I saw a house whose frontage design looks like mine. Then others followed- Where will I move with my family if I find the so-called safe havens provided by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) inconvenient? Will I have to relocate to the family house with three adult children in tow?

Will I have to rent a hotel or guest house? For how long? At what cost? Ei! What will happen to the beds, living room furniture, fridge, stoves, TV and sound system? How will I recover my vital documents that may have been left in the flood- academic certificates, voter ID card, indenture, bank cheques, road worthiness certificates, passport etc? What will become of the structural integrity of this building after the water has receded, hopefully in the next few months?

Then I also saw a video that shows the Holy Trinity Spar and Health Farm in Sogakope submerged in water. I mean the conference facility that sits in the Volta River has been taken over by water. If my memory serves me right, that beautiful hall has air conditioners and other logistics that make meeting there so enjoyable. All that destroyed by water spilled by VRA?

Villa Cisneros, a neighbouring hotel in Sogakope is equally in water. Those ladies who sell tilapia along the main road are out of business because there is no tilapia to catch from the river. How will they keep body and soul together?  Drone shots that show an aerial view of the devastation caused by the flood is so heart-wrenching. It definitely feels like being bitten in a Snakes and Ladders game.

President Akufo-Addo’s response

I am tired of criticising President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (NADAA). That’s because although he has not said so verbally, his actions point to someone with the dead goat syndrome. For those who do not know, literature that I chanced upon states that “the dead goat syndrome emanates from a popular Ghanaian metaphor which literary means a goat that is already dead does not fear if threatened with a knife.” Reshuffle ministers, no. Sack Ken Ofori-Atta, he asks why?

Really, the closest he has come to verbalizing his feelings was when he spoke to journalists on his way to vote in the Super Delegates’ Conference of the NPP in August. Read him, “It’s difficult, I’m the first to admit it. I have said it several times, but at the end of the day I believe when the moment comes, Ghanaians will reflect on who best can get us out of this difficulty.” Obviously not him. He is done, awaiting January 6, 2025.

The latest incident that gives an indication of how care-less NADAA has become is the statement he made when he visited victims of the flood created by the VRA. After he has caused to be formed, a 13-member inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Chief of Staff to address issues relating to the flood, one would have thought that when he got the chance to visit the victims, NADAA’s key message would have been simple, “My government is concerned about your plight. It is for this reason that I have set up a committee to coordinate our response to your needs. We are very disturbed by this occurrence and are with you in finding a lasting solution to this recurrent tragedy.”

However, NADAA chose to talk about votes. Not that he will be contesting in any election, but about votes that were denied him by ‘Voltarians’. "I came here because Ghanaians are having difficulties and suffering and it is my responsibility to try and help. Because, if it is a question of who votes for me and who does not vote me, I should not be here, because you don't vote for me, but that is not my concern. In any event one day, you will vote for me and my party.” NADAA complained. Like seriously?

Wait oh! “…one day, you will vote for me and my party?” is this a mere prevarication or an intention to amend the 1992 Constitution to enable him seek a third term? Farfetched, you will say. Let’s hope so.

Even the composition of the 13-member inter-ministerial committee does not seem to have been well thought through.

According to a statement issued by Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah on Friday, October 13, 2023, the members are; Ministers of National Security, Interior, Defence, Energy, Finance, Local Government, Works and Housing, Roads and Highways, Environment, Sanitation, Lands and Natural Resources, and Information.

Other relevant ministries like Health and Gender, Children and Social Protection are conspicuously missing. No wonder this has attracted the wrath of the Ghana Medical Association and Child Rights International. Who stopped short of saying “we can’t think far” that these two ministries will be excluded from such an important committee.

It’s time to go

After his boss went to misfire, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia seems to have been sent to do damage control. When he visited the victims on October 18, 2023, I heard him telling VRA and NADMO officials to look for a long-term solution to this recurrent disaster.

I could not help but ask myself, long-term solution after 62 years of constructing the dam? Well, it is better late than never, they say. However, I have a feeling that we shall all continue to pray for the water to recede. After that, we will all go back to sleep until it becomes necessary to spill water from the dams again. We only live by grace. Ghana!

The MP for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has risen to the occasion says, “let’s put our thinking caps on.” His suggestion is that we should redirect the excess water into irrigation. I think I have heard this suggestion before. Why it has not been implemented by the engineers at VRA is what I cannot fathom.

And what is the call for government to declare a state of emergency in the affected areas about? Is the situation as it is not a state of emergency in itself? What needs to be done is for state actors to start acting accordingly before things get out of hand. Already one life has been lost. That is definitely one life too many.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Agency has given indication that more rain is in the horizon. Clearly, this is a climate change issue. Not business as usual. Thus, if we fail to put our thinking caps on in order to find a lasting solution, then we are doomed. The engineers must start work.

My heart goes out to those who have, so to speak, been bitten by that long snake in the Snakes and Ladders game, whose attack sends one to the starting point- lost livelihoods and properties. I trust in God to provide the ladder that will return them to their deserved state in this game of life, soon.

Auf Wiedersehen - that’s goodbye in German.

Let God Lead! Follow Him directly, not through any human.

The writer is the author of two books whose contents share knowledge on how anyone desirous of writing like him can do so. Eric can be reached via email ericayettey@yahoo.co.uk.