Demands on the new government have begun pouring in as the latest group is the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) requesting swift action on the embattled Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam.
Among a number of demands, PFAG is calling on the government, in the spirit of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), launch an audit into the funds that have been pumped into the project. PFAG alleges that the project has been used by previous regimes as a conduit for extortion and corruption hence the need for an audit.
“Recognizing that an audit of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam is part of your agenda to ensure accountability under the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL), we urge you to ensure that any illegal funds are recovered and returned to the state,” parts of the PFAG’s statement read.
The farmers also issued a request to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to prioritize the construction of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam within the first 120 days of his administration.
The association says the neglected dam when completed has the potential to combat climate change while boosting Ghana’s agricultural GDP by 20% to 30%.
“The Pwalugu multi-purpose dam has the potential to address climate change issues and provide an additional 20% to 30% of agricultural GDP when properly implemented. We request a budgetary allocation to commence construction of the dam within your first 120 days,” the peasant farmers told the President.
The Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam, located in the Upper East Region, has been touted as a game-changer for Ghana’s agriculture and water resource management. With the potential to irrigate vast tracts of arable land and control devastating floods in northern Ghana, the project could serve as a lifeline for the country’s smallholder farmers.
However, years of delays and allegations of financial mismanagement have left the initiative in limbo.
The PFAG believes that reviving the Pwalugu Dam project is not just about addressing food insecurity but also about adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. The association noted that erratic rainfall patterns have severely disrupted farming in recent years, leaving thousands of farmers vulnerable to crop failures and income losses.
The Pwalugu Dam originating in the 1990s was planned for the White Volta River near the Pwalugu Bridge. It was designed with multiple benefits in mind. It was to feature a 25,000-hectare irrigation scheme, the largest in the country, aimed at boosting agriculture and protecting farmers from drought. Additionally, the dam was expected to increase renewable energy capacity through hydro-power generation and provide flood protection for the northern regions, which are frequently affected by the Bagre Dam’s spillage in Burkina Faso.
The project, estimated to cost US$993 million, has seen little progress over the years despite its potential to address multiple challenges. In November 2019, the past government ceremoniously broke ground for the project, but its inclusion in the NPP manifesto as a privately funded initiative suggests that little has been done since.
