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Last month a ‘controlled spillage’ was conducted at the Akosombo and Kpong hydro-electric dams near the southern tip of Lake Volta.

But for those living downstream it felt anything but controlled; rather residents described sudden and massive floods which took water levels to the rooftops of their houses – destroying homes in minutes which had taken them years to build.

Around 26,000 people were left homeless. With water levels still high, any thoughts of rebuilding are for the future and for now the priority remains survival.

The authorities say that unpredictable and heavy rains caused by climate change significantly increased the volume of water in the two dams – and that Akosombo dam had reached the maximum safe operational level. They say without the release of the water the dam could have burst creating an even greater disaster.

But many local people are critical with how the situation has been handled.

For Africa Daily, Victoria Uwonkunda reports.