The Hyacinth Weed Is Affecting Livelihoods Along the Volta Lake

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Issues affect people in rural Ghana and it always looks as if we have no one in charge to complain to or share with. For days, weeks, seasons and years the hyacinth weed along the Volta Lake affects the indigenes staying along the Volta Lake.

Canoes anchored due to blockage of the huge hyacinth weed


The hyacinth weed has taken charge of the Volta lake again, determining whether people get their daily bread or not and as to whether people travel across from their islands to other places or not. On Sunday, 6th January 2019, some team members of the development geek were held for 3 hours in Agbeve an island community, in the South Tongu district of the Volta region on our way back from a community engagement in Kua, near Agave. This communities does fishing, oyster mining in the Volta lake as main livelihood source.
Hyacinth divided across the Volta lake surface

According to the residents, the water hyacinth in a decade past does not affect them much because, it moves with speed into the ocean giving them no trouble like how it has been affecting them now which they believe it is due to the construction of the Kpong and Bui hydro-electric Dams in recent years that's affecting the speed of water flow into the ocean from the Akosombo Dam.
The hyacinth weed has covered the surface of the river which according to the residents prevents them from fishing since it carries their nets away and tore them. This affects their livelihoods! The residents also pointed out that, the huge weed affects commuting on the lake since if care is not taken, causes their canoes to cap side due to the speed of the weed passage and its size. This makes travelling slow where canoes have to wait on the weeds till it is safe for them to cross.
thedevelopmentgeek
Hyacinth Weed posing danger 

The residents are calling on the government and agencies to come to their aid! The Volta river authority, Ghana highway authority and National disaster management organization are to get to the scene to help solve the issue. This situation needs urgent attention!
thedevelopmentgeek
Hyacinth weed washed ashore


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