The Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project, located in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region, stands as a significant investment in Ghana’s infrastructure, aimed at delivering essential benefits in power generation, irrigation, and flood control. This ambitious project is projected to be a transformative force for the local economy and a crucial component of Ghana’s broader development strategy.
Recently, the Bank of Ghana allocated $12 million to the contractor responsible for the dam’s construction, marking a critical milestone in the project’s progression. Valued at approximately $993 million, the Pwalugu Dam project is central to Ghana’s efforts to enhance energy security, boost agricultural productivity, and mitigate flooding. Key features of the project include a 60-megawatt hydroelectric power plant, a 25,000-hectare irrigation scheme, and a comprehensive flood control system to address recurrent flooding in the region.
Despite this financial injection, concerns have emerged regarding the actual progress on the ground. Observers have noted that little to no visible work has been done at the project sites, prompting questions about the disbursement of funds. Bernard Otabil, Director of Communications at the Central Bank, clarified that the Bank only disburses payments authorized by the government.
Nearly five years after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo initiated the construction of the Pwalugu Dam in November 2019, the project has yet to show significant advancement. This delay is particularly noteworthy given the historic nature of the sod-cutting ceremony, which marked the culmination of a vision dating back to the early 1960s.
Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed his personal commitment to the project, describing it as dear to his heart. During a visit to the Upper East Region, Bawumia reiterated the project’s importance to his agenda of prioritizing agriculture. “I have no doubt that I am championing the Pwalugu multipurpose dam, and by the grace of God, we will do it,” he affirmed.
As stakeholders continue to push for the timely completion of the Pwalugu Dam, the project remains a focal point of Ghana’s development ambitions, with hopes that the promised benefits will soon become a reality for the region’s residents.
