Naa Betty Nelson and Helena Selby
23 October 2009
In contributing towards participatory, equitable and transparent decision-making processing around the issue of dams in Ghana, the Committee of the Ghana Dams Dialogue (GDD), in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), would hold its 3rd Ghana Dams Forum meetings.
Briefing the media on the up-coming forum, Mr. Richard Twum Koranteng, Secretariat of the Ghana Dams Dialogue, said there was the need for a broadly agreed hydropower sustainable assessment tools, standards and the avoidance of disparate approaches being used at local, national and regional levels, which necessitated the development of the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP).
Speaking on the theme, "Addressing Livelihood and Institutional Challenges for the Sustainable Development of Dams in Ghana," he noted that the construction of the dam would be of great importance to the community and the nation as a whole, as it is meant to supplement the Akosombo Dam in the supply of electricity.
He said there would be consultations with the Dam Affected Communities, government Ministries, Department and Agencies and the Ghana Dams Forum, all on the 27th, 28th and 30th of October, on the draft protocol.
According to him, the forum, a cross-sectoral group, has been developing guidelines which are based on the existing International Hydropower Association (IHA) Sustainability Assessment Protocol.
He explained the GDD was an independent platform that seeks to provide an arena for constructive deliberations around often contentious issues related to hydropower dams.
"The GDD was recently approached to participate in a sub-regional study seeking to identify best practices in terms of decision-making around large infrastructure projects, including hydropower dams, and the result is the inclusion of this national process in the sub-regions dialogue initiative."
He noted that as at now, the GDD had received support from the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), since its inception in April 2006.
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