The Minority in Parliament has expressed grave concerns about the progress of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project in the Upper East Region, alleging that despite $12 million being spent, there has been no significant development on the site.
During a press briefing at the project site, Yapei-Kusawgu MP John Jinapor emphasized that those involved in the deal, which has already cost the state approximately 200 million cedis, would be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. “We will activate all the parliamentary processes to retrieve that amount of money, almost 200 million cedis that has been dashed to this contractor. Somebody must be held accountable. $12 million can do a lot in this country,” Jinapor stated. He added, “So we’ll use every legitimate means, every legal means to retrieve the money and punish those who have caused this financial crime and financial loss to the state.”
These remarks followed a visit by the Minority leadership on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament to the site of the $1 billion Pwalugu Multipurpose irrigation dam. The project, initially commissioned in 2019, was slated for completion this year. However, the committee, led by ranking member Hon. John Jinapor, discovered an empty plot of land with only remnants of sold-off chippings and stones brought in by the contractor.
The delegation also met with the chief of Kurugu in the Northeast region. Contrary to claims that communities had been relocated using project funds, the chief confirmed that no one had approached him regarding any relocation efforts.
The Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam project was designed to include several components:
– A Roller Compacted Concrete dam with an elevation of 168 meters above sea level near the Pwalugu Bridge on the White Volta River, encompassing a reservoir area of 262 square kilometers.
– A powerhouse featuring two Kaplan turbines with a combined installed capacity of 60 megawatts, alongside a 50 megawatt solar power plant.
– An irrigation scheme consisting of a 20-meter high water weir and a canal network to irrigate approximately 25,000 hectares of land.
The delegation included Hon. Edward Bawa, MP for Bongo, Deputy National Communication Officer of the NDC Malik Basintale, Upper East Regional Communication Officer Jonathan Abdullah, and other officials.
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