The President is expected to commission a project in Fumbisi in the Builsa South District as part of the government’s One District One Factory.
A1 Radio has gathered that a rice milling factory has been established in Fumbisi as part of the government’s grand scheme, One District One Factory.
The President’s visit forms part of his usual regional tours done to ascertain the progress of work in the various districts and regions.
This is according to the Upper East Regional Director of Communications, Peter Ayinbisa. He said this when he spoke to Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith on A1 Radio’s DayBreak Upper East Show.
But ahead of the President’s visit, the Executive Director for the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), Bismark Adongo Ayorogo has called on the President to as part of his activities for his visit, make public statements about the progress of work at the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam.
It would be recalled that 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.”
To this end, Mr. Ayorogo was hopeful that the President’s statement on the progress of work on the project would be in order.
“He should let us know about his much-cherished industrialization policy and how it is working and affecting the people of this region. I expect him to make comments on the progress of work on the much-touted Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam. In my opinion, it has the chance of contributing to solving over 60 percent of unemployment issues in the region or even in Northern Ghana.”
“I want the President to help us understand why the workers have abandoned the place. Workers were there and they decided to leave the site. We want to know what the explanation is. In cutting the sod, we were given a 50-month period. We are so many months in the given period. He [the President] gave the timeline; you did not give the timeline, I did not give the timeline. We trust that he knew and still knows what he is doing. So we want to know; why is it that workers have abandoned the site?”
Mr. Ayorogo continued to say, “I expect him to make a comment on health issues in the region. My understanding is that, in our medical stores, it is very difficult to find common paracetamol in it. All these and more, I’ll be interested in.”
In a recent interview with 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.”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
