Weija Dam Spillage: It Is Indiscipline Of Citizens To Build At Buffer Zone - GWCL

Communications Manager for the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr. Stanley Martey has passed a word of caution to residents and companies situated on the buffer zone of the Weija Dam to stay off the area to avoid calamities during spillage.

According to him, even though this year’s spillage has not yet caused any casualties for the residents in the area, there is no guarantee despite the measures put in place to prevent bad news after the Weija Dam spillage.

Speaking on Okay FM’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Stanley Martey reminded residents and companies that it will be difficult for Ghana Water Company Limited to create a tunnel for the spillage as it has no means.

He thus added it is prudent for the river to take its natural course to the sea as the government has not that kind of investment to create a tunnel for the river into the sea; advising the citizens to rather discipline enough not to build their houses to block the way of the buffer zone.

"Every river has a buffer zone which no one should do anything to block it, but in Ghana, people have built on the buffer zone of the river," he averred.

He maintained that due to “indiscipline and irresponsibility” of Ghanaians, it has become annual ritual to carry out public announcement to warn off the people the spillage of the Weija Dam whenever it is raining season.

“In every year we come out with the same information that we are going to spill the excess water in the Dam...for instance, the levels of the Dam are still going high and we are going to spill and we do this twice every year. We have put measures in place so that there will be no issue during the spillage but prevention is better than cure,” he cautioned.

He however chided it is about time Ghanaians outgrow that adamant behaviour and be more disciplined and responsible citizens; reiterating that refusal to do the right thing will make Ghanaians complain and lament on their own indiscipline and irresponsibility.

He hinted that it is not within the jurisdiction of the Ghana Water Company Limited to stop and evacuate dwellers at the buffer zone as it is the sole responsibility of the Municipal Assembly but feared nothing of that sort has happened since the spillage started destroying properties and claiming lives.