Ing. Kirk Koffi, former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), has advocated for the development of a new hydroelectric power plant at Pwalugu to enhance energy generation and mitigate flooding in northern Ghana.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face program on Tuesday, May 20, Ing. Koffi emphasized the strategic importance of the proposed Pwalugu dam for both energy security and agricultural productivity.
“I think we should be looking at the Pwalugu [dam], because of its importance. We should have our own food basket in this country,” he said.
Ing. Koffi explained that the current water management system in the northern region leads to considerable water spillage and flooding due to the flat terrain, which limits the volume of water feeding into the Akosombo Lake.
“That small facility and they are producing many grains, when they spill very little volume, it comes up to the North, and because the place is a bit flat, you see it flooding. It doesn’t even impact much of the inflows into the [Akosombo] lake; it all spreads,” he noted.
He added that the construction of the Pwalugu dam would help contain floods and contribute to Ghana’s food security and renewable energy goals.
“When we build the dam [hydro power plant], it will contain the floods,” Ing. Koffi stated.