By Peter Agengre
The Ranking Member of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, John Abdulai Jinapor has expressed disappointment over the poor show of work on the much-touted Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam in the North East Region.
Mr. Jinapor could not find the appropriate words to describe the reality he was confronted with after travelling thirteen kilometers to the dam site from Wulugu.
According to him, the minority side in Parliament has received numerous reports indicating that no work has been done on the project that was initially estimated to be completed in 48 months. They therefore found it appropriate to visit the site.
“This can best be described as a scam. This was nothing but an election gimmick to hoodwink the people. Right after the elections, nothing has happened. I can confirm to you that almost 12 million US dollars has been paid to the contractor, at today’s exchange rate of about 16 Ghana Cedis. That translate to about GH¢192 million. As you can see, nothing, I mean nothing has been done here.” Mr. Jinapor gloomily explained.
It is envisaged that the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam when fully completed would promote food security and nutrition in the country, which is reeling under the effects of climate change and recurrent droughts.
The dam will create a reservoir with a surface area measuring 350 square kilometers and would provide irrigation water to an estimated 25,000 hectares of farm lands.
It will also host the Pwalugu Hydroelectric Power Station, with a generating capacity of 60 MW and address the perennial flooding in the north. But at the moment, the site has been turned into farmland by some farmers in the area.
“We visited the site for the contractor and the contractor has packed out of the site. Not only has he abandoned the project, but blocks and chippings have all been sold out. And so the taxpayers money has gone done the drain. We find this development very unfortunate. We therefore call on President Akuffo Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia who comes from this area to fulfil their promise,” The MP for Yapei-Kusawgu constituency appealed.
The delegation included the Member of Parliament for Bongo Constituency Mr. Edward Bawa, the Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC Mr. Malik Basintale and some regional executives of the NDC in Upper East Region.
