The former Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), Charles Nyaaba claims that the work completed at the Pwalugu Dam site thus far would not amount to more than $1 million.

He stated that during their visit to the dam in December 2023, the structures described by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) as completed were not evident.

 The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), in a press release on May 28, clarified the $12 million payment to the contractor responsible for the Pwalugu Multipurpose Irrigation Dam project. 

Defending the payment, GIDA asserted that it was part of the contractual agreement with Messrs. Power Construction Corporation of China (POWERCHINA). The payment, totalling $11.9 million, was designated as mobilization funds.

GIDA emphasized that the payment to POWERCHINA was made in accordance with the terms of the contract, which stipulated a mobilization fee.

This fee was intended to facilitate initial project activities, including the submission of pre-construction documents and the commencement of certain physical works.

But speaking on JoyNews Newsfile, he stated that when his team visited the site in December 2023 "those things that were described by GIDA as they constructed, we had not seen them."

"What we saw there as a layman, I do not think it would cost more than a million dollars because there was virtually nothing apart from the clearing of the trees where farmers were now using the down floor to plant cocoa, to plant rice and other vegetables. There was no construction work that is done”

Speaking on the same show, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has accused the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) ) of providing what he describes as a contrived explanation for the $12 million expenditure on the Pwalugu Multipurpose Irrigation Dam.

Gyamfi asserted that the explanations provided by GIDA are untenable and do not justify the substantial payment made to a company responsible for the construction.