The Akosombo Dam, also known as the Volta, is a hydroelectric dam on the Volta River used to generate electricity for most of the 16 regions of Ghana and its neighbouring West African countries, including Togo and Benin.
On October 15, 2023, the operational capacity of the dam was exceeded on account of rising water levels, as a result of an increased rate of heavy rains this year. It was necessary for the Volta River Authority (VRA) to release water from the Akosombo Dam to prevent the dam from overflowing which can lead to even more disastrous consequences. However, this led to the high rising levels of the Volta River, and the water inflow flooded low-lying communities along the river. North and Central Tongu districts were the most hit in areas such as Mepe, Battor, Sogakope, Mafi, Adidome and Ada.
Fourteen-year-old Beatrice who lives in Mepe and is in class 6, told me: “I was in my room, and I saw something coming towards me. I asked my mother about it, and she said the place was getting flooded. I asked my mother where we were going to go with our things. We spoke with Mepe Presby's school headmaster if we can bring our things to the school, and he said yes. School stopped but now we are learning under a tree on the school compound.”
To date, the Akosombo dam spillage has displaced an estimated 35,857 people including children – who are the most affected according to the UN in Ghana. People have lost their belongings and livelihoods. Schools in these flooded communities have been either destroyed or access to them is difficult. Education is on halt for most children in these communities, and their only survival now is support from organisations and individuals.
“Learning has become difficult now since we don’t have access to our classroom and education materials,”
UNICEF was part of the six UN Agencies that visited a relocated community, Agbeketikpo, which was affected by the Akosombo Dam spillage. The heads of the UN Agencies interacted with the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) and Battor District Assembly members to understand the situation and plan ways to support those affected. We conducted assessment for the communities that were affected by the flooding.
UNICEF intervened with educational materials, health & nutrition items, and hygiene kits to North and Central Tongu districts to support the rising needs of those impacted by the flood.
“It is now difficult for my parents to get me learning materials due to the flooding, but these educational materials will help us to read and write. I want to learn to become a nurse,”
UNICEF is committed to working with the government to protect children in emergencies. Access to school and learning is difficult, but education must continue. Ghana Education Service and UNICEF are helping flood-affected children like Beatrice resume their education in North and Central Tongu Districts with educational materials.
