Wa East MP and Deputy Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee in Parliament, Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has criticised the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority’s (GIDA) explanation regarding the $12 million expenditure on the Pwalugu Dam project, describing it as misleading.

GIDA stated that the $12 million was allocated for the mobilisation phase of the Pwalugu Dam construction. 

This included the establishment of a Contractor’s Camp and Site Offices at Sariba, which comprises 10 buildings with 100 rooms, as well as the completion of auxiliary facilities such as a wood processing factory and a steel bar factory.

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However, in an interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, May 29, Dr Seidu Jasaw challenged GIDA's claims, emphasisiing that the current state of the project site does not align with their description. 

He highlighted discrepancies between GIDA's statement and the actual conditions at the site.

Dr Jasaw pointed out that the containers and other structures mentioned in GIDA’s statement are no longer present, suggesting that the reported progress does not reflect reality. 

“The camp did exist. In fact, they were constructing the camp as of the time we visited the place, but these were temporary structures. They had blocks that were being moulded to be able to hold the containers. You see, the argument is being mixed up here."

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“I am yet to read the whole statement from GIDA but my quick reaction from the renditions that have gone on is that this picture and existence of a camp could be misleading,” he stated.

Dr Jasaw added that GIDA must be transparent and provide Ghanaians with the complete truth about the matter.

“So, as we speak the current state of the project is that the camp doesn’t exist anymore, what you see is the relic of a camp that existed. And villagers I’m told came to vandalise the place when they knew the contractors were gone.

“My quick reaction is that the statement by GIDA from my hazy perusal appears misleading. Because the impression is being given, particularly showing committee pictures with camp. These were pictures taken in October 2021,” he added.