The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has cut the sod for the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam and Irrigation Project.
The project, according to President Akufo-Addo, “will be the single, largest investment ever made by any Government in the Northern sector of the country”, and is in fulfillment of a pledge he made to the Ghanaian people on 21st February, when he delivered the Message on the State of the Nation.
Cutting the sod for the construction on Friday, 29th November, 2019, the President stated that the pledge he made was to the effect that construction of the Dam will “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.
“Today, we begin the process of realising this pledge. Today, we start the process of helping to bring respite to the people of the Northern Regions of our country, and to lay the foundation for the sustained growth and development of the area,” he added.
The Pwalugu Multipurpose project will consist of three main components, namely the construction of a hydropower plant; the construction of a solar farm; and the establishment of an irrigation scheme covering an area of some twenty-five thousand (25,000) hectares.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the 60 megawatt hydropower plant and the 50 megawatt solar power plant will be the very first hydro-solar hybrid system in the country, with the two technologies complementing each other to provide reliable and stable electricity supply to the national grid.
Additionally, the irrigation component of this project, the largest ever built in the country, with 15,000 out-grower beneficiaries, the President added, will complement the gains made by programmes such as “One Village, One Dam” and “Planting for Food and Jobs”.
With the transformation of North hinging on creating infrastructure, and supporting agriculture and agro-based industries, the President bemoaned the fact that in the dry season, agricultural work comes to a halt in the Northern Regions, as farmers continue to be dependent on rain-fed agriculture.
“Irrigation, therefore, remains a key strategy to achieve food security, the eradication of poverty and generation of rural employment in the Northern sector, in particular, and, generally, across the country,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “With millions of dollars spent on rice imports annually, in the midst of an abundance of fertile lands, this project has the potential to increase annual rice production in the country by up to one hundred and seventeen thousand (117,000) metric tons, reducing rice imports by as much as 16%.”
Again, he revealed that the Pwalugu reservoir can accommodate up to one hundred and twenty thousand (120,000) cages of twenty-five (25) square metres each of fish, with an average yield of two (2) tons per cage, making possible the continuous development of the country’s aquaculture and fisheries sector.
This project, he added, is also very crucial to the realisation of the “One District, One Factory” initiative, as it will serve as a catalyst to developing agro-industry, including reviving the Pwalugu Tomato factory.
“Other hydro-electric projects, such as Akosombo and Bui, were intended also to have irrigation schemes, but they have, unfortunately, not materialised. The story of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam and Irrigation Project will be different,” he assured.
With the cost of the project, amounting to some US$993 million, President Akufo-Addo stated that the cost will be borne entirely by Government, and will be executed constructed under an engineering, procurement and construction contract by Sinohydro, and will be executed in 50 months.
“In all, two thousand, two hundred (2,200) Ghanaians, skilled and unskilled, will benefit fully from the project, with the contractor mandated also to source services such as catering, security, water, cement, steel, office logistics, and other supplies locally,” the President stated.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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You are just a big foooooool to post this. If your Akufo Addo is aware of your allegation and Mahama is still walking free then what did that make you as his follower, jus an idiooooooooot.
I guess you are getting some few cedis for free so you can sit by your computer and write that rubbish but time will tell.
@ Kofi your examples are bad ones. Next time look for better/appropriate examples to buttress your point. And for the records, for every venture there are opportunity costs. This should NOT prevent you from executing the venture. That is what bold leadership does. Banking sector clean up: It is better for a few thousands to lose their jobs than for millions of depositors to eventually lose their hard earned savings/deposits through illegalities and criminal conduct of a few individuals. My only problem is that these individuals are walking about not facing prosecution!! With a stronger and more resilient banking sector most of the job losers will/can be re-engaged Free SHS: I am sure you have no idea how the private SHSs have benefited/come to the rescue of parents in getting schools for their wards as a consequence of the Computerised school placement system.
@kelly i thought your problem was with reading and understanding but didn’t know kookow has also taken over your eyes. To sum it up you guys are simply not bright
Legacy Legacy Legacy
White volta is a main tributary of the Akosombo Dam. I hope there is proper impact assessment on the dam together with so many settlements in the catchment area. This government is noted for implementing projects without proper impact assessment. Doubt it ? consider the impact of free shs on private shs and financial sector clean up on direct /indirect jobs.
Reading the comments of NDC Fuuuooooool on this platform it makes no surprise the attitude of their leadership
Ei, 3 NPP soldiers holding the hand of the president just to press a button? This man might be very seriously sick.
'Aban papa nono!' Not CREATE, LOOT & SHARE!
THE LAST SHOW...U BORROW 40 MILLION DOLLARS FROM WORLD BANK YET YOU THINK WE WILL BELIEVE YOU THIS AMOUNT. EXPERIENCED SOD CUTTER ,THEN HE GOES TO BED... VOTERS NOT JOKERS ANYMORE