The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu has given the firm assurance that the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project, touted as the single largest investment in Northern Ghana by the current administration, has not been derailed. Mr. Yakubu said the president’s vision for the dam would be realized in due time.
In November 2019, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod for the project in the Talensi District. It is expected to cost the government of Ghana an amount of 993 million dollars.
The project, which is the single largest investment ever made in the Northern part of Ghana, and estimated to cost US$993 million, would consist of a Hydro-Solar hybrid system of 60 MW Hydro Power and 50 MW Solar Power.
The two technologies would complement each other to provide a reliable and stable electricity supply to the national grid.
The Project would also provide an irrigation scheme covering an area of Twenty-Five Thousand (25,000) hectares and improve water supply to the Northern parts of the country.
In addition, the Multi-Purpose Dam, expected to be completed in four years, would control the perennial flooding in the Northern regions caused by heavy rains and the spillage from the Bagre Dam.
Earlier this year, however, it came to light that some of the engineers at the site had begun packing and evacuating from the site; a sign of worry for Professor David Miller, the Founder and Vice-Chancellor of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies (MITDS).
While speaking on A1 Radio, Professor Millar said, “I expected that by now, the foundation should have been established but if you go to the site, there is little to say about the dam construction aside the workshop erected by the engineers”.
“Now, I know the engineers are even packing off. Due to the lack of funding, some of them have relocated.”
But speaking to Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith on the Day Break Upper East Show, Friday, July 29, 2022, the Upper East Regional Minister said the project is on course.
“Government is very committed to the project. At the last cabinet meeting, it came up and the Nana Addo government is very committed. We would not disappoint Northern Ghana to set up this big project here.”
“A project of this magnitude, you have to take your time because of the past experiences we have had in undertaking irrigation projects. The process is ongoing. It has not got to the real building of the infrastructure yet but I can tell you that the Committee that is going around to ensure that the groundwork is done were with me,” he said.
When asked if he could give specific timelines to back up the assurances he gave, Mr. Yakubu replied, “I think that people should have patience. People should allow the process to go on. You know the project is in two regions and some people would have to move. Sometimes, they have to move some people from one region, even to another or from one chief’s jurisdiction to another chief’s jurisdiction.”
“When they finish all this, the proper construction would start. I cannot give dates to them,” he reiterated.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
