Eric Opoku directs Attorney General to terminate Pwalugu Dam contract

Minister of Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, disclosed that the directive is aimed at paving the way for a new contract to ensure the project is completed as planned.

He said the move reflects the government’s renewed commitment to addressing the annual flooding crisis caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.

The government has subsequently instructed the Attorney General to begin the process of terminating the existing Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam contract.

Communities in the Upper East and North East Regions have, for years, suffered devastating losses during the Bagre Dam spillage, with farmlands, homes, and livestock destroyed. The Minister explained that completing the Pwalugu Dam remains one of the most effective long-term solutions to this perennial problem, which continues to threaten food security and farmers’ livelihoods.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Friday, August 29, Mr. Opoku reiterated that the John Mahama-led administration is determined to see the project through. He described the Pwalugu Dam as a “game-changer” for northern Ghana, as it will help reduce flooding, boost irrigation, and enhance agricultural productivity across several regions.

“What we are doing is that we have asked the Attorney General to initiate the processes for the termination of the contract and re-award it. The president is committed to ensuring that the Pwalugu Dam is constructed,” he said.

Mr. Opoku added that the government is also educating residents in flood-prone communities on measures to manage the effects of the Bagre Dam spillage while preparations are made to begin the construction process.

He assured affected farmers and communities that the administration is focused on delivering a permanent solution through the Pwalugu Dam project, emphasizing that the government “will not rest until this project is successfully completed.”

Government in 2019, initiated a $993 million contract to build the Pwalugu multipurpose dam in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.