Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed the major challenge hampering the completion of the Pwalugu Multipurpose dam.
In 2019, President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of the project. It was expected to be completed within four years. However, the progress of the project has since stalled.
Speaking on Wednesday, November 2, at the launch of the Northern Development Authority’s five-year strategic plan in Tamale, he attributed the delay in completing the project to financial constraints.
He, however, said the government will not relent in its quest to make the project a success.
“Even though the project is facing financial challenges, we are determined to find the resources to complete the construction of the dam.”
The project was awarded to China Power International group and was to be funded with a Sydohydro facility of $993 million.
Upon completion, the Pwalugu dam will be the largest investment any government has ever injected into infrastructure expansion in the northern sector since Ghana’s independence, according to President Akufo-Addo.
During the commissioning of the project, President Akufo-Addo further indicated that it was in fulfillment of a pledge he made to the Ghanaian people on February 21.
Upon completion, it will also “avert the perennial flooding caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam”, as the construction of the dam will be the permanent solution to the problem of spillage from the Bagre Dam.
About the Pwalugu Dam
The multipurpose Pwalugu dam will be built near the Pwalugu Bridge on the White Volta River and will have a maximum reservoir area of 350 km.
The project will also have a powerhouse consisting of two turbines with a capacity of 60MW each and 16.5MW of firm continuous capacity, as well as a 15km overhead line which will export power to an existing transmission line.
The construction of the dam will be funded with a loan from China, where it will take about three and a half years to complete.
The project will also come with a 25,000 irrigation scheme which will boost annual rice production by up to 117,000 tonnes and maize by up to 49,000 tonnes in the country. Other plants included in the anticipated production boost are crops like tomatoes, sugar, sweet potato, sweet pepper, and onions.
Additionally, the project will serve as a source of electricity and also help to improve irrigation farming in local communities in the farming area.
Source: The Independent Ghana