FORMER VRA BOSS URGES SWIFT CONSTRUCTION OF PWALUGU DAM TO BOOST ENERGY AND PREVENT FLOODING

Dr. Charles Wereko-Brobby, former Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), has called on the government to expedite the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam. He emphasized that completing the project is critical to improving Ghana’s energy supply and managing recurring floods in the northern part of the country, especially along the White Volta River.

Located near the Pwalugu Bridge in the North East Region, the dam is designed to serve multiple purposes. It will include a 60-megawatt hydroelectric power plant and provide irrigation for about 25,000 hectares of farmland. Additionally, it will supply drinking water to several downstream communities.

The project also features a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Kurugu, in the East Mamprusi Municipality, creating Ghana’s first hybrid hydro-solar power system with a combined output of 110 megawatts.

Construction began in April 2020, with completion originally slated for late 2024. However, as of May 2025, work is still ongoing. The dam is being funded by the Government of Ghana with international support, at an estimated cost of $993 million.

Dr. Wereko-Brobby stressed that accelerating the dam's completion will not only help stabilize power supply but also prevent the devastating effects of seasonal floods that have repeatedly displaced communities in the region.