On April 8, 2024, while before the Public Accounts Committee, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Ernest Addison, could not justify a $11.9 million paid to MS Power China International Group Limited for the Pwalugu Irrigation Project.
It was reported by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency in the Central Region, Mr Samuel Atta-Mills, that no work had been done on the site.
“I thought before payments are made, contractors would present certificates. When you get to Pawlugu, there is nothing there. There is no pole or signboard,” he said.
The PAC demanded documentation from the Bank of Ghana to investigate these transactions further.
Since the BoG’s meeting with PAC, a month ago, there has been no response from both parties, as to whether the Bank of Ghana has provided documents on the monies paid to the Chinese company.
On November 29th, 2019, the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency (H.E.) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, cut the sod for the construction of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam Project.
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 hydropower 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 have been completed in four years, would control the perennial flooding in the northern regions caused by heavy rains and the spillage from the Bagre Dam.