Barekese Dam
Coordinates6°50′6.33″N 1°43′18.53″W
CountryGhana
LocationBarekese, Kumasi, Ashanti Region
PurposeMunicipal water supply[1]
StatusO
Construction began1965
Opening1969
OperatorGhana Water and Sewerage Company
Dam crossesOfin River
Dam height foundation21.5 m (71 ft)
Dam height thalweg18.5 m (61 ft)
Dam length603 m (1,978 ft)
Dam elevation crest223.6 m (734 ft)
Dam width crest6 m (20 ft)
Res capacity total35,300,000 m3
Res catchment909 km2 (351 sq mi)
Res surface6.4 km2 (2.5 sq mi)
Res max length13 km (8.1 mi)[2]
Res elevation220.9 m (725 ft)[3]
Plant hydraulic head12 m (39 ft)
Plant capacity400 kW[4]

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.

History

The 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

  1. ^ "(BAREKESE) ATWIMA NWABIAGYA: Barekese Dam expansion works near completion". Ghana Districts. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  2. ^ "The African Dams Database - References and Notes". UN FAO - Aquastat. p. 8. Archived from the original on 18 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  3. ^ "Ashanti Region Dams". Ghana Hydro Data. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  4. ^ "Hydro Power Development in Ghana". Energy Commission, Ghana. p. 12. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Government gets funding for expansion of Barekese Dam". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  6. ^ "Barekese Dam under threat from encroachers - Kessben FM". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  7. ^ -SpyGhana.com, Ghana. "Revive Nkrumah's Barekese Power Project -". Retrieved 2015-04-17.
  8. ^ "Chainsaw operations rife at Barekese - Graphic OnlineGraphic.com.gh". Daily Graphic. Retrieved 2015-04-17.