Former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Kirk Koffi, has said no individual or group can be blamed for the devastating effects of the Akosombo Dam spillage in 2023. The spillage, which displaced thousands of residents across eight communities along the Volta River—most notably Mepe—was widely criticized. However, Ing. Koffi insists the incident was driven by natural forces beyond human control.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Face to Face on Channel One TV, he explained that the spillage resulted from overwhelming inflows into the dam and was not the outcome of negligence. When asked if anyone should be held responsible for the destruction, he responded: “No, no, it all depends… direct rainfall can impact what it comes from anywhere. It’s just a result of the inflow. You cannot hold them responsible because they would have died anyway.”
He pointed to unusual weather patterns in 2023, which contributed to the dam’s rising water levels. Although inflows were expected to decrease by September, they instead surged, forcing the VRA to intensify spillage to protect the dam’s structural integrity. “By September 2023, when we were to see a downward trend in the inflow, it picked up, which was an indication, and they had to spill a little bit more. Those who run the facility don’t bridge the dam; if you do, everybody downstream will go, and you will not save anybody. That is, if the water overflows. 2023 was an unusual year,” he explained.
Ing. Koffi commended President John Dramani Mahama and Energy and Green Transition Minister John Jinapor for their leadership in addressing the crisis and setting up a committee to plan for future incidents. “Thanks to President John Dramani Mahama for his vision and foresight, as well as Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Hon. John Jinapor, for setting up this committee two years after the event.
“I believe they are looking more into the future to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’m sure they might have been briefed,” he added.
By: Leticia Osei
