Book On Akosombo Dam Launched

A historical book, titled The River's Power , based on the Akosombo Dam and hydro-electric power generation, was launched at the British Council auditorium last Wednesday.

The author of the book, Annor Nimako, is an educationist, writer and publisher.

He was formerly the Executive Director of the Ghana Book Development Council.  

The 474-page book tells in absorbing detail of the background to the dam project, intricacies of international financing, problems of dam construction and the remarkable achievement of generating hydroelectric power.

These are balanced against a human problem of the greatest magnitude and complexity - the resettlement of over 80,000 displaced people out of their ancestral homes.

According to Mr. Nimako, The River's Power is about the ideals of a people, their aspirations, hopes, sacrifices and remarkable achievements. He said he was motivated to contribute to the visionary education policy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's Government from which he benefited immensely.

Launching the book, the Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Ambassador Kabral Blay Amihere, said the dam, which was built by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has benefited Ghanaians, adding that it has also become the bedrock of the nation's industrial achievements.

He emphasized that Dr Nkrumah lived for society and never died since his name is mentioned every now and then.

He therefore challenged Ghanaians to live up to expectation and contribute to the advancement of society and encouraged people to get copies.

Fiifi Tharkoh, who represented Kweku Awotwi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), said the VRA has set standards for public sector after 50 years of the existence.

According to him, all the engineers presently working with the VRA are Ghanaians, adding that Ghanaians will continue to be engaged when the VRA expands its capacity.

He said the VRA is still engaged in corporate social responsibility programs and provision of schools, scholarships, a mobile medical boat, among others, for people living along the catchment area of the Volta Lake.                                              

Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, General Manager, Newspaper, Graphic Communications Group Limited, who chaired the occasion, endorsed the opinions expressed about the book and recommended its wide readership.

He commended EPP Books Services, distributors of the book for adopting a pragmatic method of offering copies of the book for sale to the audience without embarrassing them with an auction. It included autographed copies offered at discounted prices.

From Business Desk