GHANA – Ghana has announced plans to start the construction of the US$750 million Pwalugu dam in the Upper East Region by November to check the perennial spillage of the Bagre dam.
Spillage of the Bagre dam in neighboring Burkina has over the years inflicted substantial destruction to farmlands in several local communities.
The construction of the Pwalugu Dam is expected to address this problem while at the same time boosting agriculture by providing water for the irrigation of an additional 25,000 hectares of farmland.
Dr Bawumia said the Pwalugu Dam would also serve as source of electricity for the local communities in the area.
“It is the biggest investment in northern Ghana on any infrastructure project since independence,” Dr Bawumia said, while addressing the chiefs and people of Lawra on Saturday at their 43rd Kobine Festival celebration.
The annual festival, marked to celebrate bumper harvest during the farming season, was held under the theme: “Protecting our environment – key to ensuring our future food security”.
“We are very grateful to his Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo who will cut the sod next month for this major project by the Grace of God,” Dr Bawumia said.
The government has for the past three years, made huge investment to modernise agriculture, improve food production sufficiency, achieve food security and make farming more profitable to rural farmers.
The ‘Planting for Export and Rural Development’, for instance, has promoted growth of local economic trees for export and local consumption.
It has also helped boost sustainable development of the local economy and protect the fast degrading environment for posterity.
The government has also constructed seven water closets with mechanised water facilities in the Lawra Traditional Area and expects to complete about 155 boreholes in the area by December this year.