Barekese Dam is a dam on the Ofin River that supports the main water treatment plant for Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, supplying about 80 percent of the potable water for the city and its surrounding environs.[5][6] It is operated by the Ghana Water Company.
Barekese Dam | |
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Country | Ghana |
Location | Barekese, Kumasi, Ashanti Region |
Coordinates | 6°50′6.33″N 1°43′18.53″W / 6.8350917°N 1.7218139°W |
Purpose | Municipal water supply[1] |
Status | Operational |
Construction began | 1965 |
Opening date | 1969 |
Operator(s) | Ghana Water and Sewerage Company |
Dam and spillways | |
Type of dam | Embankment and gravity composite |
Impounds | Ofin River |
Height (foundation) | 21.5 m (71 ft) |
Height (thalweg) | 18.5 m (61 ft) |
Length | 603 m (1,978 ft) |
Elevation at crest | 223.6 m (734 ft) |
Width (crest) | 6 m (20 ft) |
Reservoir | |
Total capacity | 35,300,000 m3 (28,600 acre⋅ft) |
Catchment area | 909 km2 (351 sq mi) |
Surface area | 6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi) |
Maximum length | 13 km (8.1 mi)[2] |
Normal elevation | 220.9 m (725 ft)[3] |
Hydraulic head | 12 m (39 ft) |
Installed capacity | 400 kW[4] |
History
editThe Dam was built by Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. It was started in 1965, and completed in June 1969 with the aim of providing both water and electricity to the people of Kumasi.[7][8]
References
edit- ^ "(BAREKESE) ATWIMA NWABIAGYA: Barekese Dam expansion works near completion". Ghana Districts. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "The African Dams Database - References and Notes" (PDF). UN FAO - Aquastat. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "Ashanti Region Dams" (PDF). Ghana Hydro Data. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
- ^ "Hydro Power Development in Ghana" (PDF). Energy Commission, Ghana. p. 12. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "Government gets funding for expansion of Barekese Dam". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
- ^ "Barekese Dam under threat from encroachers - Kessben FM". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
- ^ -SpyGhana.com, Ghana. "Revive Nkrumah's Barekese Power Project -". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
- ^ "Chainsaw operations rife at Barekese - Graphic OnlineGraphic.com.gh". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2015-04-17.