President Nana Akufo-Addo on Friday cut sod for the construction of a multipurpose dam at Pwalugu in Talensi District of the Upper East region.
The $993 million project, which is being financed solely by the government, has been on the drawing board since the early 1960’s, and the sod-cutting ceremony was, thus, considered historic.
The multipurpose dam will address three main issues, namely irrigation, hydropower generation and flood control.
The project is expected to be completed in about four years two months and would be executed by Sinohydro, a Chinese state-owned hydropower engineering and construction company.
The dam is also expected to help curb perennial floods and deaths that occur in areas due to flow-way of the Bagre dam.
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In an address, the president said the commencement of the project was to fulfill his promise to address perennial floods in the area.
President Akufo-Addo also indicated the project would be the single, largest investment ever made by any government in the northern part of Ghana.
The ceremony was graced by Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Minister of Energy, Mr Peter Amewu, Members of Parliament and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.
The event also welcomed hundreds of residents, including traditional rulers from both the Upper East and the North East regions who are the main beneficiaries of the project.
