text: The Akosombo Dam is a hydroelectric dam in southeastern Ghana. The dam created the largest man-made lake, known as Lake Volta. The dam provides electricity to Ghana and surrounding West African countries.\n\n\nThe dam is 660 meters wide and 114 meters high. It was built between 1961 and 1965. In periods of drought, the water in Lake Volta is rationed and less electricity is generated. During these times, cities in Ghana are subjected to rolling blackouts to lessen their consumption of electricity. Ghana's Volta River Authority has contracts with neighbouring countries for electricity. These contracts are given higher priority than the customers in Ghana's own cities. Though Kaiser Aluminum is a major user, and the dam was constructed in part for the smelting of local bauxite, the economics have turned out such that raw materials have to be imported to keep the industry running.