The engagement, which took place on Friday afternoon at the Anloga District Assembly Hall, was hosted by Madam Sandra Seyram Kpedor, the District Chief Executive (DCE), and formed part of the Authority’s broader Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) sensitisation programme for communities at risk of flooding.

The meeting aimed to educate stakeholders on the VRA’s Emergency Preparedness Plan while equipping residents and institutions with knowledge on how to respond effectively during flooding emergencies and other climate-related disasters.

Addressing participants during the engagement, Madam Sandra Kpedor used the occasion to call on the leadership of the VRA to urgently intervene in the persistent sandbar blockage at the Fuveme estuary to ensure the free flow of water from the Volta River into the sea whenever water levels rise.

According to her, dredging the estuary remains one of the critical measures needed to reduce pressure on surrounding communities and prevent recurring floods that continue to threaten lives, livelihoods, and property within the district.

“As the DCE, I am calling on the leadership of the VRA to utilise their expertise and equipment to dredge the estuary at Fuveme to prevent further flooding and pressure from sea currents, as we witnessed some days ago,” she appealed.

Madam Sandra noted that several communities within the district continue to experience the devastating impact of flooding and tidal surges.

She recalled that during the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage, communities within Kome/Shime, including Alakple and Fiaxor, recorded pockets of flooding that displaced residents, submerged roads and farms, and disrupted economic activities.

She also referenced the recent tidal surge situation at Fuveme, where rising sea currents and the blocked estuary caused water to overflow its boundaries, affecting nearby settlements and increasing fears among residents.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, during a recent visit to the affected area about two weeks ago, announced plans to engage the VRA to support dredging works at the estuary as part of efforts to reduce the intensity of water currents and minimise flooding risks in the coastal communities.

Madam Rhoda Arthur, an official of the VRA, also provided guidance on safety measures and emergency responses during flood situations.

She cautioned residents against putting up structures within buffer zones around water bodies, stressing that such practices expose communities to severe flooding risks during periods of heavy rains, dam spillages, and tidal surges.

“Building within the buffer zone of water bodies is dangerous and increases the risk of flooding during situations such as these,” she stated, while hinting at possible enforcement of regulations to discourage encroachment on waterways and wetlands.

The Anloga District remains one of the coastal districts in the Volta Region that is highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to its low-lying geographical nature and proximity to the sea and lagoon systems.

The local economy is largely dependent on fishing along the sea, the Volta River, and the Keta Lagoon, as well as farming and trading activities. However, the district continues to face increasing threats from tidal waves, coastal erosion, and flooding linked to Akosombo Dam spillages and changing climatic conditions.

A similar stakeholder engagement exercise has also been conducted in the neighbouring Keta District as part of the VRA’s regional flood preparedness outreach programme.

The engagement brought together officials of the Anloga District Assembly, heads of key state institutions including the Ghana National Fire Service and the National Ambulance Service, traditional authorities, Assembly Members, media practitioners, and staff of the Volta River Authority.