The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) a CSO based in the Upper East Region and Narrative Changers, a pressure group also based in the Upper East Region are both disappointed that the President did not take the time to address the many concerns that have arisen since sod was cut for the construction of the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam in 2019.
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.”
In lieu of this, many, including the aforementioned groups were hopeful that the President, would have visited the site or at least made some public comments about the state of the dam.
Speaking to Mark Smith today, the Executive Director for NORPRA, Bismark Adongo Ayorogo was severely displeased.
“3 years ago, he [the president] cut the sod for the construction of a strategic national project called the Pwalugu Multi-purpose Dam. It was said that that was the largest public investment ever made by any government in this part of the country. I had amplified my voice on this a number of times that the project had been abandoned. Construction had stopped, workers had packed and left the site.”
“I expected the President to Just get to the site and tell us, since he was interested in monitoring the progress of very important projects, what is happening with the project,” he said.
The Chairman of Narrative Changers, George Solomon shared the same sentiment when he spoke on the same platform.
Aside the dam, Mr. Solomon was unhappy the President did not take the time to speak to issues concerning the government’s much talked about One District One Factory.
“The government is talking about industrialization. You move into a region with a lot of industries that are defunct, I would have expected that the President would at least visit one of those industries.”
He continued to say that the President’s visit to any of the defunct factories in could have heightened the interest of prospective investors. Mr. Solomon again questioned the government’s commitment to finishing and operationalizing its own factories under 1D1F.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
