Ministry of Food and Agriculture has instructed the Attorney General to initiate termination proceedings for the existing Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam contract, signaling a shift in the government's approach to a long-delayed infrastructure project aimed at curbing chronic flooding in the country’s north.
Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku announced the move Friday in Accra, citing the administration’s renewed commitment to mitigating the annual devastation caused by spillage from Burkina Faso’s Bagre Dam. The flooding routinely displaces communities, ravages farmland, and disrupts food production in the Upper East and North East regions.
“We have asked the Attorney General to begin the process of terminating the current contract and re-award it,” Mr. Opoku told reporters. “The President is committed to seeing the Pwalugu Dam constructed. This is a key step to protecting livelihoods and ensuring food security.”
First proposed years ago, the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam is expected to offer flood control, irrigation, and hydroelectric power once completed. However, progress on the project has been stalled, prompting the current administration under President John Mahama to revisit contractual arrangements.
In the interim, Mr. Opoku said the government has launched public education efforts to help residents manage the annual flood risk while construction plans are re-evaluated.
“We are cautioning communities on the dangers of spillage and educating them on how to cope with its effects,” he said.
Analysts say the decision to terminate and re-tender the contract underscores growing pressure on the government to deliver on infrastructure promises amid climate-related challenges and increasing food insecurity.
