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The Parliamentary Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa said it will work to facilitate the rapid release of funds to ensure that the irrigation component of the Pwalugu Multi-Purpose Dam project is on track and completed in the near future. benefit all Ghanaians.
The committee therefore undertook to work with the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Food and Agriculture to ensure that the necessary contributions are made so that the funds are released in the budget statement that the Minister Finance will present to Parliament next month for the project to continue.
The chairman of the committee and Member of Parliament for Abirem in the East region, Mr. John Osei Frimpong, gave the assurance in an interview with the Daily Graphic in Nalerigu, the capital of the North East region.
The visit to Nalerigu was part of the committee’s three-day visit to the irrigation project site to interact with relevant stakeholders.
It was also to help the members of the committee to better understand the irrigation aspect of the project, to observe the progress of the work carried out as well as to appreciate the challenges which it could be confronted.
Ongoing activities
The irrigation scheme has a construction period of 48 months and so far activities carried out include additional design study, cadastral survey, soil analysis, construction of contractor’s camp and ancillary facilities. , mobilization of personnel and equipment.
The next phase of the project, according to the contractor, Power China International Group Limited, was the actual start of construction, but delays in releasing funds affected the successful implementation of the project.
Funding gaps
The issue of funding gaps was one of the main concerns raised by the contractor during the three-day stakeholder visit which started last Monday and ended yesterday.
During the meeting with the committee in Nalerigu, Power China Commercial Director Mr. Chen Junming said in a presentation that the irrigation component of the project faces a funding gap that needs to be addressed for it to continue. as expected.
According to Junming, for this year the project was supposed to receive $ 27 million but had so far received around $ 12 million, adding that the huge funding gap would inevitably affect the project and extend the construction period.
Frimpong in its response, said the committee would engage with the ministries of finance and food and agriculture to ensure that the huge funding gaps were closed to get the project started on time, saying that the issue of land acquisition was not a problem and that once funding had been made available this aspect would not be a problem for the start of the project.
He noted that the project was so dear to the hearts of the northerners and the country as a whole and that it would greatly help the country to deal with food security issues and therefore every effort should be made to address financing gaps for the implementation of the project.
Deputy committee member and Member of Parliament for Wa East in the Upper West region, Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, also expressed concern over the huge funding gap and called on the government to speed up the release of funds. for the project to continue as planned.
“I urge the government to follow the rhetoric and release the funding and let this project end.
“This project is so critical because it brings at least three major advantages, namely: there will be an electricity production component, an irrigation component and a flood control component,” he said.
Project not delayed
The Director General (CEO) of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Mr. Wilson K. Darkwah, whose team represents the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) in the implementation of the project. Irrigation, expressed optimism that the government will find the funds to continue the project, saying it is optimistic about the success of the project.
He added that GIDA had done wide sensitization and that the chiefs and people were cooperating to ensure the success of the project.
Mr Darkwah further said the project was on track and nothing had been delayed except that there was a need to release funds in a timely manner.
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