Pwalugu multipurpose dam will be done – Dr. Bawumia assures

Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam is dear to his heart indicating that he will get it done.

During his visit to the Upper East Region as part of his interaction with religious leaders and other stakeholders, he reiterated the significance of the project fits into his agenda of prioritizing agriculture under his administration.

“I have no doubt that I am championing the Pwalugu multipurpose dam, and by the grace of God, we will do it,” he disclosed.

The project which feeds into his agenda for agriculture, he reiterated, is a major priority adding; “My first priority, if you make me president, is going to be agriculture – large-scale commercial agriculture and mechanized agriculture with the application of technology.

"This initiative has been lacking. We have the lands, we have the water, so we need to move in this direction.”

Project Delays

Following the cutting of sod by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in November 2019, expectations were high over the commencement of the construction work. However, the outbreak of the coronavirus disease further dashed the hopes of many over the actualisation of the project in due time.

According to the Volta River Authority, work will proceed notwithstanding the pandemic.

Project Coordinator of the Pwalungu Multipurpose Dam at the Volta River Authority, Kwaku Wiafe explained that human resources have been sourced from Chinese Engineers who were already in Ghana overseeing the construction of the Tamale Interchange prior to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

“The lead Contractor is Chinese and it is important that right from the beginning, we assure the community that there is no risk of any virus transmission. And the reason being that, we will put in place a number of precautions.

"Firstly, all the people who are going to work on the project at this initial phase, should have been quarantined but they have spent significant time in Ghana and show no symptoms” Mr. Wiafe told Bolgatanga-based A1 Radio in May 2020.

Parliament in February 2020 approved a loan facility of over $900 million for the project, sealing off concerns over the government’s ability to fund the project locally as indicated by the President at the sod-cutting ceremony.

The project covers an irrigation facility, which will also serve as a flood control mechanism, a 60MW of Hydropower and 50 MW of Solar power to augment electricity supply to the five regions of the North.

The entire project will be executed by Power China International and supervised by the Volta River Authority over a period of 52 months.

The 50MW solar power electricity will be sited at Kurugu in the East Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region while the 60MW hydropower will be sited at Nungu in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.