Study Team:

Dr. Fidelia Ohemeng
Mr. Richard Twum-Barimah
Ms. Louisa Sawyerr
Ms. Narkie Nartey
Prof. Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu
 

1. Introduction

The Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric dams were built in the 1960s and 1980s respectively to provide power that will serve Ghana’s industrial and domestic needs. The reservoir that was created by the Akosombo dam was touted as the largest man-made lake in the world. In many countries, especially in Central America and Sub-Sahara Africa, over half of all electricity generated comes from hydro electric power (HEP) (Anderson et al., 2006; Gyau-Boakye, 2001). More than 150 large dams have been built by African countries of which more than 50 per cent of them are meant for hydroelectric production (Skinner et al., 2009). Whiles the establishment of the two dams have enhanced water transportation, tourism, and some fisheries among others, it came at a high cost to communities along the Volta River both upstream and downstream. The impoundment of the dams has resulted in significant modification in the existing ecological and biophysical processes (Fobil and Attuquayefio, 2003). Some communities lost their ancestral lands and had to be resettled in other communities. Furthermore, the social and economic lives of the people were affected. This has led to poverty, inequality, water borne diseases, as well as ecosystem destabilization.

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