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VRA holds annual Emergency Preparedness Plan Sensitization Programme

Volta River Authority has held its annual Emergency Preparedness Plan Sensitization Programme at the Asuogyaman District Assembly in the Eastern region.

Date Created : 4/29/2019 4:58:48 AM : Story Author : Kojo B. Frimpong/Ghanadistricts.com

The event was organised by VRA in collaboration with stakeholders along the Volta Lake as a wakeup call for any dam break and the measures to put in place for the evacuation exercise.

The District Chief Executive (D.C.E) for Asuogyaman, Hon. Samuel Kwame Agyekum in his opening remarks called on the management of the Volta River Authority (V.R.A) to allocate more resources for the development of the District.

The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) Coordinator at VRA, Mr Ulysses Hammond, in his presentation highlighted some of the achievements and projects undertaken by his outfit namely the provision of several mechanized boreholes for some of the Four Hundred (400) communities in which the activities of VRA has affected and scholarship to intelligent but needy students in some of the underprivileged communities.

Mr Ulysses Hammond also mention that, due to logistical and financial constraints and the inabilities to sustain the clearing and dredging of weeds, the company has engaged the services of a private company for the next ten years to clear and dredge the river and also process the weeds for productive purposes. In addition he said that, the cost for the project will solely be absorbed by VRA.

Mr. Hammond briefly explained that any well-built Dam must have an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) which is a plan put in place to prevent flooding or disaster during a spillage of the Dam or a natural disaster,where affected people will be moved to is referred to as the Safe Haven.

A Safe Haven signage, was erected at the premises of the District Assembly to create awareness as one of the Safe Havens in the District.

The Environmental Management Plan Coordinator Mr. Hammond in his final remarks said VRA in collaboration with Forestry Commission have developed a specialized Bamboo to be planted along specific areas to protect and prevent encroachment along the Volta River.

Participants present at the seminar expressed joy about the contribution the Volta River Authority is making towards the development of the communities,but also called on Authorities of the company to invest more resources in the District rather than engaging in equitable distribution of resources within the Four Hundred (400) communities.

Present at the seminar were the DCE for Asuogyaman District Hon.Samuel Kwame Agyekum,The District Coordinating Director Mr Moses Kobla Joshua,other Heads of Departments at Asuogyaman District Assembly,Chiefs from related communities, the Environmental Plan Management Coordinator Mr Ulysses Hammond,other dignitaries and participants from the communities.