Table of Contents
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Table of Contents Page LIST OF ACRONYMS a EXECUTIVE SUMMARY I 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 Scope of Study 1 1.2 Background – Volta River Authority 2 1.3 Proposed Aboadze-Volta Transmission Line Project (AVTP) 3 1.4 Legal, Regulatory and Policy Considerations 5 1.5 Future developments by VRA 8 2.0 Description of proposed development 10 2.1 Pre-Construction Activities 11 2.2 Construction Phase Activities 12 2.3 Operational Phase Activities 17 2.3.1 Other Operational Considerations 20 3.0 Description of Existing Environments 21 3.1 Bio-Physical Environment 21 3.1.1 Climate 21 3.1.2 Flora 25 3.1.3 Fauna 35 3.1.4 Water Resources 43 3.1.5 Geology and Soils 44 3.1.6 General Land Use 51 3.2 Socio-Economic/Cultural Environment 51 3.2.1 Methodology 53 3.2.2 Profiles of the Districts in the Project Area 54 3.2.2(a) Shama - Ahanta East Metropolitan Area 54 3.2.2(b) Komenda - Edina - Eguafo - Abirem (KEEA) District 58 i 3.2.2(c) Mfantseman District 61 3.2.2(d) Awutu-Effutu-Senya District 63 3.2.2(e) Tema Municipal Area 65 3.2.2(f) Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese 68 3.2.2(g) Ga District 71 3.2.2(h) Gomoa District 74 3.3 Results of Socio-Economic Surveys 77 (Communities, Persons and Property) 3.3.1 Information on Affected Persons and Properties 78 3.3.1.1 Age Distribution of Affected Persons 78 3.3.1.2 Gender Distribution of Affected Persons 79 3.3.1.3 Marital Status of Affected Persons 80 3.3.1.4 Ethnic Composition of Afected Persons 81 3.3.1.5 Household Size/Dependents of Affected Persons 81 3.3.1.6 Religious backgrounds of Affected Persons 82 3.3.2 Economic Indicators 83 3.3.2.1 Occupations of Affected Persons 83 3.3.2.2 Affected Properties 84 3.3.3 Land Tenure Arrangements 85 3.3.4 Health 86 3.3.5 Affected community Properties 87 3.3.6 Concerns of Affected Communities 87 3.3.7 Expectations of Affected Communities 88 3.4 Identified Survey Pegs (VRA Pillars) by Districts 88 3.5 The Existing Coastal Transmission Line (Tema-Takoradi) 89 4.0 Significant Environmental Impacts and Proposed Mitigation 91 4.1 Potential Pre-Construction Impacts and Mitigation 93 4.2 Potential Construction Impacts and Mitigation 96 4.3 Operation and Maintenance Impacts and Mitigation 103 4.4 Socio-Economic/Cultural Impacts and Mitigation 108 ii 4.5 Special Issues of Concern 111 4.5.1 Electromagnetic Field (EMF) Effects 112 4.5.2 Payment of Compensation 116 5.0 Monitoring 121 5.1 Constructional Phase 121 5.2 Waste Management 122 5.3 Operations and Maintenance Phase 123 5.4 Socio-economic/cultural issues 123 5.5 Weekly Checklist for Monitoring Activities 123 6.0 Consideration of Alternatives 124 6.1 “No-development” scenario 124 6.2 Upgrading existing facilities 124 6.3 Alternative modes of transmission 124 6.4 Alternative tower design and material 125 6.5 Alternative Routes 126 7.0 Provisional Environmental Management 127 7.1 Environmental Management Structure 127 7.1.1 Qualifications of Project Environmental Personnel 128 7.1.2 Functions of Project Environmental team 128 7.1.3 Project Environmental Coordinator 129 7.1.4 Project Environmental Assistants 130 7.2 General Health and Safety Procedures 130 7.2.1 Safety Guidelines for forestry Work 131 7.2.2 Safety Guidelines for transmission Line Work 131 7.3 Pollution Prevention 132 7.3.1 Planning and Preparation 132 7.3.2 Site Offices (Base Camp) 132 iii 7.3.3 Storage, handling and Disposal of materials/Oils/Chemicals 133 7.3.4 Concrete Works 134 7.3.5 Silty Water Discharge 134 7.4 Waste Disposal 135 7.5 Training Programme 135 7.6 Allocation of Resources for Environmental Management 136 8.0 Consultations 145 8.1 Consultations with District Assemblies 145 8.2 Public Consultations 146 8.3 Concerns Raised 146 8.4 Consultations with Agencies, NGOS and Others 147 9.0 Conclusion 154 ANNEXES ANNEX 1 - TERMS OF REFERENCE ANNEX 2 - EPA COMMENTS ON SCOPING ANNEX 3 - BASELINE DATA ANNEX 4 - EMF INFORMATION - OTHER TECHNICAL DATA ANNEX 5 - CONSULTATIONS ANNEX 6 - MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN VRA AND THE FOREST SERVICES DIVISION ANNEX 7 - PUBLIC DISCLOSURE NOTICE iv List of Figures Figure 1.1 - Existing VRA Transmission Network in Ghana Figure 1.2 - Project Area and Proposed Line Figure 3.1 – Mean Annual Rainfall (mm) in Project Area Figure 3.2 - Monthly Average Temperature (0C) in Project Area Figure 3.3 - Average Percentage Relative Humidity in Project Area Figure 3.4 - Land Cover Map of Project Area Figure 3.5 - Yenku “B” Forest Reserve Crossing Figure 3.6 - Soil Map of Project Area Figure 3.7 - Settlement Map of Project Area List of Tables Table 3.1 - Mean Annual Rainfall (mm) in Project Area Table 3.2 - Monthly Average Temperature (0C) in Project Area Table 3.3- Average Percentage Relative Humidity in Project Area Table 3.4(a)- Species list of Strand vegetation around Aboadze Thermal Plant Area Table 3.4(b)- Species list of Marshland/Swamp vegetation around Aboadze Thermal Plant Area Table 3.4 (c)- Species list of Apra Hill forest Table 3.4 (d)- Sacred Groves/Shrines in the Transmission Line Route RoW Table 3.4 (e)- Species list of Guako Sacred Grove near Pokuase Table 3.5 - Fauna of the RoW Areas and Their conservation Significance v Table 3.6 - Surface Water Bodies traversed by the Proposed Line Route Table 3.7 - List of Affected Regions, Districts and Communities Table 3.8 - Age Distribution of Affected Persons Table 3.9 - Gender Distribution of Affected Persons Table 3.10 - Marital Status of Affected Persons Table 3.11 - Ethnic Composition of Affected Persons Table 3.12 - Household Size/Dependents of Affected Persons Table 3.13 - Religious Backgrounds of Affected Persons Table 3.14 - Occupations of Affected persons Table 3.15 - Affected Properties Table 3.16 - Terms and Conditions of Land Tenure in Affected Communities Table 3.17 - Common Illnesses in Some Affected Communities Table 3.18 - Causes of Diseases in Some Affected Communities Table 3.19 - Details of Existing Coastline Transmission Line Segments (Tema – Takoradi) Table 4.1 - Impact Identification Matrix Table 4.2 - Summary of Research Findings of EMF and Health vi LIST OF ACRONYMS AES - AWUTU- EFFUTU- SENYA DISTRICT AVTP - 330 KV ABOADZE-VOLTA TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT CCMA - CAPE COAST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY CEB - COMMUNAUTE ELECTRICITE DU BENIN CEDECOM - CENTRAL REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION CITES - CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES CP - CONSTRUCTION PIONEERS CR - CRITICALLY ENDANGERED/CRITICAL DD - DATA DEFICIENT DSIZ - DRY SEMI-DECIDUOUS INNER ZONE EC - ENERGY COMMISSION ECG - ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA EIA - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT EMF - ELECTRICAL AND MAGNETIC FIELD EMP - ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN EN - ENDANGERED EPA - ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ESSD - ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF VRA FSD - FOREST SERVICES DIVISION OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSION GNPC - GHANA NATIONAL PETROLEUM COMPANY a ICAO - INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANISATION IPP - INDEPENDENT POWER PROVIDERS IUCN - INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR THE CONSERVATION OF NATURE JSS - JUNIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL KEEA - KOMENDA EDINA EGUAFO ABIREM DISTRICT KV - KILO VOLT (1,000 VOLTS) LI - LEGISLATIVE INSTRUMENT LR - LOWER RISK MOU - MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING NED - NORTHERN ELECTRICITY DEPARTMENT NGO - NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATION NPLD - NON PIONEER LIGHT DEMANDER PET - PROJECT ENVIRONMENTAL TEAM PHC - POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS PIU - PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT POTP - PRESTEA – OBUASI TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT R - RARE RoW - RIGHT-OF-WAY SAEMA - SHAMA AHANTA EAST MUNICIPAL ASSEMBLY SB - SHADE BEARER SHEP - SELF-HELP ELECTRIFICATION PROJECT SM - SOUTHERN MARGINAL SSS - SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL b TAPCO - TAKORADI POWER COMPANY TBA - TRADITIONAL BIRTH ATTENDANT TEPZ - TEMA EXPORT PROCESSING ZONE TICO - TAKORADI INTERNATIONAL COMPANY LIMITED TMA - TEMA METROPOLITAN AREA VALCO - VOLTA ALUMINIUM COMPANY VRA - VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY VU - VULNERABLE c 330 KV ABOADZE - VOLTA TRANSMISSION LINE PROJECT – EIS – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Executive Summary The Volta River Authority (VRA) proposes to construct a new Power Transmission Line from Aboadze in the Western Region to Tema in the Greater Accra Region. The project, which is known as the 330 KV Aboadze – Volta Transmission Line Project (AVTP), is required primarily to evacuate power from the Aboadze Thermal Plant to the Volta Switching station at Tema to be fed into the National grid. Under the provisions of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Act, 1994 Act 490, and in furtherance to its Corporate Policy on Environment, VRA is carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the proposed project. Furthermore, in compliance with the provisions of the Ghana Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (LI 1652), erection of Power Transmission Lines falls under the category of Environmentally Critical Projects for which EIA is mandatory; the proposed project has therefore been duly registered with the EPA. Scoping for the EIA has already been carried out and the Terms of Reference for the EIA study have been agreed upon with the EPA. This chapter is a non-technical summary of the main components of the Environmental Impact Statement, with emphasis on the main significant impacts and proposed mitigation recommendations. • Background - Volta River Authority (VRA) VRA was established in 1961 as a public owned utility by the Volta River Development Act, 1961 (Act 46). VRA is engaged in the business of generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in Ghana. The Authority also supplies power to neighbouring utilities in La Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Togo. The Authority owns and operates a countrywide transmission system for the distribution of bulk electric power in Ghana (see Fig.1.1).