Engineers and technical experts have opened the Kedzi-Azizadzi floodgate at Havedzi in the Keta Municipality of the Volta Region in a controlled operation aimed at reducing rising water levels in the Keta Lagoon and preventing possible flooding in nearby communities.
The exercise was carried out in collaboration with the Keta Municipal Chief Executive, Wisdom Seade, and a technical team made up of Engineers Paul Kwame Sewor, Rex Edeckor, Dennis Kuleke, Abass Mohamed, and Joel Degue.
According to officials, the decision became necessary after sustained increases in water levels in the lagoon system, which posed a growing threat to homes, farmlands, and key road networks within the catchment area.
Former Municipal Assembly Engineer in charge of the floodgate, Rex Edeckor, explained that the operation was carefully executed using heavy-duty chain hoists, ropes, and other lifting equipment due to the size and structure of the concrete-and-steel gate.
He noted that opening the floodgate allows excess water from the lagoon to flow directly into the sea, helping to ease pressure within the system during the rainy season when water volumes typically rise.
Edeckor also disclosed that the sandbar at the lagoon’s outlet had been cut to further improve water discharge into the sea, adding that technical teams from the Volta River Authority would remain on the ground to monitor developments and respond to any changes.
He described the Havedzi floodgate as a critical part of the lagoon’s flood control infrastructure, designed to regulate water movement between the lagoon and the sea and reduce the risk of flooding in surrounding communities.
Residents and fishermen in the area have been urged to remain alert and follow safety instructions as authorities continue to monitor water levels and assess the impact of the intervention.
