Those who feel it know best: Unpacking the impacts of the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage on downstream communities in Ghana

Flood are among the most devastating disasters globally, with long-term socio-economic impacts on affected populations . In 2023, the spillage of the Akosombo Dam triggered widespread flooding in downstream communities along the Volta Basin in Ghana. Emerging studies examining the impacts of this disaster have largely relied on secondary sources and focused primarily on health effects rather than the multidimensional impacts on affected communities. The main objective of this qualitative study is to investigate the lived experiences and multilayered impacts of the flood. Using purposive and snowballing sampling, data were collected through in-depth interviews with affected residents in Mepe, one of the epicentres of the disaster. The key findings reveal that the flood disaster produced impacts across multiple dimensions, including disruptions to education, health impacts, family disintegration, livelihood losses, and forced displacement. These impacts highlight how flood disasters extend beyond immediate physical damage to reshape social relations, household stability, and community resilience. The main implication of this study points to the imperative for people-centred approaches in flood disaster governance that prioritize and incorporate the flood victims’ lived experiences in recovery planning. The study recommends that the Government of Ghana, through the Volta River Authority, take responsibility for compensating affected victims and develop structured long-term recovery and support programs. Such interventions should be guided by the experiences and priorities of affected communities to ensure that recovery efforts are comprehensive, socially responsive, and sustainable.