Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed President Akufo-Addo’s intent to revive the construction of a dam In Pwalugu to ensure a lasting solution to the perennial flood in some Northern parts of the country.
The perennial flooding of the area is usually caused by the yearly spillage of the Bagri Dam in Burkina Faso, with the most recent one devastating a number of communities with loss of lives and property.
During a visit to these communities to present to them emergency relief items on behalf of the government, the Paramount Chief of the Talensi Traditional Area, Tongo-Rana Kubilsong appealed to the government to revive plans by the Kufuor administration to construct a multi-purpose dam at Pealugu and Juala.
“I am aware that some time past during the era of President Kufuor, some facility was secured to build a dam at Pwalugu. This would have curtailed the situation somehow. However, the incoming regime then decided to revise the situation by diverting the facility for some other purpose other than the dam,” the Paramount Chief recalled.
“Your Excellency, I think that it is high time you revisited this matter and ensure that in order to curtail these floods, we build a dam at the Pwalugu area.” Tongo-Rana Kubilsong appealed.
Responding, Dr Bawumia revealed the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday raised the issue of the Pwalugu dam before cabinet, following the recent flood devastation in the North.
“As Tongo-Rana has said, President Kufuor was intent on the construction of the Pwalugu Dam. Notwithstanding the funds which had been provided, those funds were diverted when the NPP government left office,” said the Vice President.
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo just on Thursday’s Cabinet, raised the issue of the Pwalugu Dam again. And he tasked us to make sure we bring the issue to the front burner and on October 1st, a meeting is being held at the Jubilee House specifically on the Pwalugu Dam and how we can get it moving forward,” Dr Bawumia revealed.
“We are very determined to make sure that this project comes to life and we believe that we can make a major impact if we do this project so we are going to push it, and I will be your chief driver to push it through and in shaa Allah, it will be done.”
The Vice President further stressed the importance of constructing the dam, which he said will serve other purposes apart from curbing the perennial flooding of the area.
“Studies have shown that if we construct the Pwalugu dam, it will have essentially three benefits for us. First of all the dam will provide the flood control that we need. With the dam, it is clear that the spillage from the Bagri Dam will be controlled. Second, it will provide hydro electric power, and third, it will also serve as a source of irrigation for
ourfarms.”
