The Volta River Authority (VRA) has received two litter skimming vessels from the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) to facilitate weeding in the Kpong Dam head basin.
Mr. Ben Arhin Sankey, Director, Environment and Sustainable Development, VRA, speaking after a media tour observing machinery in operation on the Headpond of a kpong generating plant, praised GMA for the gesture.
He said the authority is mandated to generate hydroelectric power from the Volta River, and also helps mitigate the impacts of its operations on the environment and any incidental impacts on affected communities.
Since the appearance of aquatic weeds on the Volta River, he said, the VRA has implemented several measures to ensure their management and control, including mechanical control, chemical control, biological control, and manual collection of weeds.
Mr. Psaki said the VRA has received assistance from several state institutions whose responsibilities affect the management of inland waters and the environment.
He stated that two transfer barges and two weed harvesters were delivered to the VRA by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2012 as the first in a series of support to help harvest weeds at Kpong Headpond.
He said the EPA’s weed harvesters had reached the end of their useful lives, and new trash skimmer vessels were needed to control the aquatic weed menace on the Volta River.
He said the presence of weeds on the Headpond affected the free flow of water and caused the turbines to shut down.
He said the acquisition of the vessels would help ensure the efficient free flow of water and the generation of power needed for the country.
He said the VRA is in discussions with companies about converting waste into dung for agricultural activities and power generation as well.
Captain William Thompson, GMA’s director in charge of inspection and surveying, expressed his satisfaction at cooperating to ensure bodies of water were free of dirt.
Before the tour, he said, the two authorities had signed a memorandum of understanding to deliver vessels to help remove weeds in the river efficiently.