Ghana Water Limited (GWL) says spillage from the Weija Dam is not based on a fixed annual schedule but depends largely on the volume of water flowing into the dam.
The Head of Public Relations and Communications at GWL, Stanley Martey, explained that the dam could spill for several weeks in some years, depending on rainfall patterns and the volume of water flowing into it. He added that releases could be suspended and resumed as water levels fluctuate.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, September 9, Mr Martey said the volume of water entering the dam remains the key factor in determining when spillage becomes necessary.
“It depends on the inputs. If we have more inputs, we will spill,” he explained.
He said authorities closely monitor the dam’s water level and initiate spillage when it approaches the threshold required for safe operation.
According to Mr Martey, during the major rainy season, spillage may begin when the water level reaches about 44 feet, as inflows can rise rapidly and remain high. During the minor rainy season, authorities may allow the level to rise slightly higher, to about 45 feet, before releasing excess water.
He stressed that the duration and frequency of spillage depend on prevailing rainfall patterns and water inflows rather than a predetermined timetable.
The clarification comes amid renewed concerns over the latest spillage from the Weija Dam and its impact on communities along the Densu River.
Mr Martey also expressed concern that some residents living along the river course remain reluctant to relocate to safer areas despite repeated warnings from the authorities.
He said the continued occupation and development of flood-prone areas increases the risk of flooding whenever the dam is required to release excess water.