Accra, Thursday, 18 February 2026 – The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has inaugurated an eleven-member Inter-Agency Committee on Dam Safety to strengthen regulatory oversight and enhance collaboration in the management of dams across Ghana.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the Commission’s conference room in Accra, marks a significant step in reinforcing Ghana’s dam safety regime in line with national legislation.
Strengthening Ghana’s Dam Safety Framework
The Board Chairman of the WRC, Daasabre Kwebu Ewusi VII, highlighted that while dams are pillars of national development—powering our homes, watering our farms, and controlling floods—they require unwavering vigilance.
“Dams are vital national assets. However, when not properly regulated and maintained, they can pose serious threats to lives, property, and the environment.” — Daasabre Kwebu Ewusi VII
The Pillars of Regulation
The framework for dam safety in Ghana is built upon two critical legislative pillars:
The Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 522): Grants the WRC the mandate to regulate water use and coordinate national policies.
The Dam Safety Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2236): Sets the legal standards for the entire lifecycle of a dam—from safe design and construction to operation and eventual decommissioning.
A Mandate for Public Safety
Under this legal authority, the WRC is empowered to protect the public interest through three core functions:
Risk Classification: Categorizing dams based on their potential impact on surrounding areas.
Compliance Monitoring: Enforcing strict safety standards and regular reporting.
Emergency Readiness: Ensuring dam owners prepare comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Plans (EPPs) to safeguard downstream communities.
Commitment to Collaboration and Professionalism
In his acceptance remarks, the newly appointed Chairman of the Inter-Agency Committee, Ing. Daniel Atta Yao Avafia, expressed his profound gratitude to the Board and Management of the WRC for the confidence reposed in him to lead this vital body.
He characterized the Committee as a critical mechanism under the Dam Safety Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2236), designed to bridge the gap between policy and protection.
A Shared Responsibility
Ing. Avafia highlighted that the safety of Ghana’s infrastructure is a multi-dimensional challenge that no single entity can tackle in isolation.
“Dam safety is not the responsibility of one institution alone. It requires technical diligence, regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness, and sustained collaboration.” — Ing. Daniel Atta Yao Avafia
The Chairman’s Pledge
To ensure the Committee meets the high stakes of its mandate, the Chairman committed to a leadership style rooted in three core values:
Transparency & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where information is shared openly across all stakeholder agencies.
Technical Excellence: Ensuring that dam inspections and safety reporting are both timely and conducted with the highest level of thoroughness.
Risk-Centric Operations: Keeping proactive risk management at the heart of every decision to safeguard lives, property, and the environment.
By focusing on these priorities, the Committee aims to transform dam safety from a regulatory requirement into a cornerstone of national resilience.
Composition of the Committee
The eleven-member Inter-Agency Committee comprises representatives from key stakeholder institutions, including:
- National Disaster Management Organisation
- Minerals Commission
- Bui Power Authority
- Ghana Hydrological Authority
- Ghana Institution of Engineering
- Environmental Protection Authority
- Ghana Irrigation Development Authority
- Water Research Institute
- Volta River Authority
- Ghana Water Limited
- Ghana Meteorological Agency
The establishment of the Committee reaffirms the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s dams are managed in accordance with the highest safety standards, thereby protecting lives and property while supporting sustainable national development.
