Funding deficit to contractors of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam according to Commercial Manager for Power China International Group in charge of the project, Mr Chen Jumming is threatening the scheduled 48 months for the completion of the project.

Presenting the state of affairs at the site to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Mr. Chen Junming told the committee the giant funding gap will inevitably affect the construction of progress, extend the construction period and eventually affect the economy and people of Ghana.

According to contractors they have received just USD11,949,052.06 out of USD55,939,719.26.

He also raised concerns over land acquisition for the main structure and construction site which he said has not been completed.

Mr. Junming added that community members have hindered the company from entering the site. However, added that ongoing supplementary survey and cadastral survey is obstructed occasionally because their equipment cannot enter the site for construction.

Mr Junming also raised concerns about floods in the area as a challenge facing work.

But speaking to the media in an interview Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) Wilson Darkwah said access to land is not a problem adding that for now, they do not know the lands that will be affected.

He noted that until the survey is competed that they will not be able to tell the affected and the necessary compensation given.

The committee agreed there should be a dedicated funding source to ensure the project is completed.

The Chairman of the Committee John Osei Frimpong said northern region is the food basket of the country and anything that government is doing to enhance it must be commended. He said funding the project is crucial and government is not relenting in effort.

According to him, looking at discussion by GIDA and the constructors, there is still a lot to be done adding that survey work is about 95 percent done.

Mr. Frimpong said what is technically missing now is the study to bring out the scope of the project.

“There is still a lot to be done with respect to feasibility studies the survey and all other things. if you look at the soil investigations and all other survey issues, about 95 percent in total is done just what is technical missing now is the study to bring out the scope of the project catchment area, we are looking at it because it is also important for compensations and other issues that are related to land acquisition, so until that is done fully the project cannot start at its full strength” he said.

Mr. Frimpong said what the committee was there to do was to identify the challenges and help address these concerns. He believes government would make funding available by the time surveys are completed.

”It was made clear to us through their presentation that mobilization of 55 million dollars which was earmarked for the project has not been received full, only about 12 million dollars has been received. so if you look at it critically what we need to do now is to make sure the mobilization is release because without that I don’t think they can proceed” he said.

Deputy Ranking Member, Godfred Seidu Jasaw, on his part said the constructors should have received USD 27million for this year but only USD 11million was released.

He said the funding gap is slowing work at the construction side. Dr Jasaw called on government not to approach the funding arrangement for the project with the business as usual approach.

”I want to use your medium to call on government to re-appreciate the importance of this project; this is the home of the sitting vice president of Ghana and this is a project that is going to do a lot for our small holder farmers and commercial agriculture in northern Ghana. This is a transformation project and I think that government should not approach its funding arrangement with the business usual approach” he said.

Dr Jasaw added that the rains are coming to an end this October which gives a lot of opportunity for construction works. He said the committee will push for the funding to be fast tracked for the project to go on schedule.

“For now it is dangerous, the funding arrangement makes it very risky and we don’t see this project competing in 48 months and so I want to emphasize using their medium, we should get this project started to save one - the embarrassment on the Vice President of this country and also embarrassment on this government” the ranking member said.

Dr Jasaw indicated that the project is critical to the five regions of the north because of the three components the dam is supposed to bring up.

He, therefore, urged government to walk the talk and release the funding and let the project come upstream.

The president cut sod for the commencement of work on the dam in 2019 and it was expected to be completed in 48 months.

When completed the dam is said to address the annual flooding in the northern part of Ghana, its 25,000-hectare Irrigation Scheme will offer farmers the opportunity to cultivate in the dry season by creating jobs and the hydropower component will increase Ghana’s renewable energy capacity.