The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku has said the government will seek the Attorney General’s advice to terminate the contract awarded for the construction of the Pwalugu Dam in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.
The NPP government initiated the $993 million Pwalugu Dam to boost irrigation for farmers and hydropower as well as addressing Bagre Dam spillage.
Speaking in an interview with journalists after a three-day tour, Hon. Eric Opoku stated that “What we will do is to terminate that contract immediately. We’ll terminate the Pwalugu contract, look for a contractor, seek funding, and then immediately ensure execution of the contract.”
He explained, “The project is to solve three critical challenges: To provide irrigation facilities for farmers, to provide power and to help address the challenges from the Bagre Dam spillage. The contract was awarded, the Ghana government was to pay $56 million under the contract as mobilization. Almost $12 million dollars was paid but nothing was done and it was like the contract was in a limbo.”
He assured that the NDC government will ensure that the Pwalugu project is executed under President John Dramani Mahama’s signature.
“But we are prepared to ensure that the Pwalugu project is executed. And I can assure you that it is going to be John Mahama’s signature project in the North,” he assured.
About judgement debt:
When Journalist asked him about potential judgement debt, the Minister said “What judgement debt are you talking about? A contract has been awarded, you have not done the work, you were supposed to mobilize the site, you didn’t go to site, so what judgement debt are talking about. Anyway, before we terminate, you know it will not be done here, we’ll refer it to the Attorney General’s department for his advice before the contract is terminated.”
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
