NADMO Pushes Back Against Claims Residents Were Not Warned Before Weija Dam Spillage

The National Disaster Management Organisation has firmly rejected accusations that communities downstream of the Weija Dam were caught off guard by this week controlled spillage, insisting that residents along the riverbanks received advance notice and had access to designated evacuation points before the floodgates were opened.

Dennis Nartey Adjarnor, NADMO Greater Accra Regional Director, told journalists on Thursday that the agency maintained sustained communication with affected communities throughout the operation. His remarks directly contradicted claims by some residents that they had little or no warning before floodwaters surged through their homes and businesses.

The dam operational maximum capacity is 47 feet. As at 45 feet, they started spilling. With all these spillages, we were informing the communities along the banks. So all the communities are aware that the dam will be spilling, Adjarnor said.

He added that evacuation arrangements had been communicated in advance, with safe havens identified for displaced residents. We were able to organise safe havens where we could easily evacuate them. What we are doing now is to ensure that we evacuate and save livelihoods and properties. They were duly informed, he said.

Several homes and shops in low-lying communities surrounding the dam have been inundated, with residents seen relocating belongings to higher ground following the release of excess water. The flooding has reignited familiar frustrations in a corridor that has endured repeated inundations during the rainy season.

The spillage comes just weeks after Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo placed the capital on high flood alert, warning that meteorological forecasts pointed to more intense rainfall this season and that emergency response teams were being positioned across the region. NADMO latest intervention suggests the agency is acutely aware that any perception of poor preparedness could undermine public confidence in its capacity to manage recurring flood crises.

Ghana Water Limited opened all spill gates at the Weija Dam after water levels rose above the facility maximum operating threshold, triggering a controlled spillage that authorities warned could be prolonged. Earlier reporting had noted that the company urged residents to move to higher ground and avoid crossing flooded roads.

The central tension in the Weija flood story is not new. Residents and municipal authorities have traded blame for years over construction on floodplains, inadequate drainage, and late warnings. Critics argue that even where notices are issued, the messages often fail to reach the most vulnerable households in time, or arrive when floodwaters have already begun to rise.

The Weija-Gbawe Municipality sits at a critical juncture downstream of the dam, and rapid urban expansion has pushed housing into areas that are plainly susceptible to flooding. Traditional authorities and civil society groups have repeatedly called for a more durable solution, including the relocation of communities that sit directly in the dam flood path.

For now, NADMO says it is conducting damage assessments and coordinating relief efforts for affected families. The full extent of the destruction remains unclear, however, as floodwaters continue to linger in several neighbourhoods. What is clear is that the cycle of spillage, flooding, recrimination and rebuilding has become an annual feature of life in the Weija corridor and that the next rainy season is unlikely to break the pattern without more fundamental intervention.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE