Story By:
Elizabeth Frimpong
Acting Manager of the Lower Volta Drudgery Project, VRA, Mr. Ulysess Hammond has confirmed that, the aquatic weeds on the Kpong River in the Eastern Region of Ghana pose big threats to the river. He said this on Tuesday March 23, 2016 during the Rite 90.1 FM/ USAID FUNDED Program ‘’FEED THE FUTURE PLATFORM’’.
He said, the emphasis of this treat is on the Kpong Head pond, that is, the water between Akosombo dam and the Kpong River. The weeds have now increased as a result of the two dams since the flow of the river has reduced. He explained, the reduction of the flow has made it conducive for the nutrients to stay in the river and the weeds have been feeding on the nutrients since the river has become rich, which is Eutrophic.
Mr. Hammond revealed that the weeds are categorized into four main groups, namely; Submerge, Floating, emergent and the sod weeds. He stressed on the Water Hyson weeds as fast floating weeds and about 90-95% of it is made up of water so they act as evapotranspiration which transforms the water to vapor into the atmosphere and these results in the reduction of the river.
According to him, the VRA losses lot of water in flashing out the weeds from the river so the level of water to generate electricity has also reduced. ‘’ The weeds in the river have been draining the river since 40% of the water area of the Kpong Head Pond is covered by the weeds’’ he issued. He also disclosed that, the water hyson weed came to the Lower Volta on June, 2009 and since then; it has taken over the river and sometimes the weeds clog their machines and the turbines.
Mr. Prempeh, Public Health Manager at VRA also affirms that, the presence of the weeds on the river has compromised to the health of the residence around that area. ‘’ The weeds on the river served as habitant for the bacteria which causes Bilharzia, Hence with the presence of the weeds on the river, the people living around will definitely be affected by this disease’’ he said.
He further urged the Environmental Protection Agency (E P A), and the Assemblies to collaborate with them by enforcing their bye-laws on sanitation to help control the effect on the weeds as a result of human activities.
Source: ritefmonline.org
