Officials from the Gambaga Sub-Basin of the White Volta Basin, under the Water Resources Commission, are calling for the expedited construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam. Once completed, the dam is expected to mitigate the flooding that affects various areas within the Gambaga Sub-Basin during the rainy season.
Reuben Yenli Kaaraa-Iibu, Planning Officer for the Bawku West District and Chairman of the Gambaga Sub-Basin, highlighted the challenges in an interview during a board meeting of the Water Resources Commission in the Upper East Region. He provided a detailed account of how floodwaters impact communities in the basin.
Kaaraa-Iibu also stressed the need for additional ponds or smaller dams to manage excess water spilled from the Bagre Dam and overflowing from the White Volta. These supplementary structures, he noted, would complement the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam in effectively addressing the region’s flooding challenges.
“The analysis by the Gambaga Sub-Basin community identifies the lack of reservoirs as a major cause of flooding. Surplus water, often from spillover from the Volta River, inundates surrounding communities due to inadequate infrastructure to contain it. To address this, we advocate for the completion of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam, which would absorb much of the water currently flooding populated areas,” Kaaraa-Iibu explained.
The Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project, initiated by the Volta River Authority (VRA), began with prefeasibility studies in the early 1990s and progressed significantly in 2013 with support from the Agence Française de Développement and the World Bank. Following a comprehensive feasibility study and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment completed in 2018, the project has entered the implementation phase. Key components include a 165-meter-high dam near the Pwalugu Bridge, a 60MW hydropower station, and a 25,000-hectare irrigation scheme supported by an extensive canal network. The dam will also coordinate operations with other dams on the White Volta River for effective river basin management.
The project offers multiple benefits, including enhanced agricultural productivity, flood control, and renewable energy generation. The irrigation scheme, the largest in Ghana, will support 25,000 hectares of farmland, boosting rice and maize production while fostering local economies and agro-industrial development. It aligns with government initiatives such as “Planting for Food and Jobs” and “One-District One-Factory.” Additionally, the hydropower component will contribute to Ghana’s renewable energy goals under UNFCC commitments while significantly reducing flood impacts in the White Volta Basin, which have historically caused severe property damage and loss of life.
This is according to the Volta River Authority.
Source: A1 Radio Online | 101.1 MHz | Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith | Bolgatanga
