Kirk Koffi Calls for Completion of Pwalugu Dam to Tackle Flooding and Boost Food Security in Northern Ghana

Former Chief Executive Officer of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Kirk Koffi, has urged renewed national focus on completing the Pwalugu Hydropower Project, citing its vital role in controlling persistent flooding in northern Ghana and strengthening the country’s food security.

In an interview on Face to Face with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV, Ing. Koffi stressed the strategic importance of the multipurpose dam, describing it as a potential game-changer for both Ghana’s energy and agricultural sectors.

“We need to take the Pwalugu dam seriously because of its significance. Ghana must develop its own reliable food basket,” Koffi emphasized.

He explained that the flat terrain in northern Ghana makes the region particularly vulnerable to flooding. Even minor water releases from upstream sources often result in widespread damage, affecting farmlands and displacing residents.

“That small facility up north is producing large quantities of grain, but even a small spill floods the region due to the flat landscape. It doesn’t significantly impact the Akosombo Dam’s inflows — it just causes devastation up north,” he said. “A dam there would help contain the flooding.”

According to Koffi, the Pwalugu project is designed as a multipurpose infrastructure, with the capacity to generate hydroelectric power, support irrigation for agriculture, and offer long-term flood mitigation in the northern region.

Once completed, the dam is expected to protect vulnerable farming communities from frequent flood disasters and significantly enhance agricultural output, contributing to national food stability.

Source: MyNewsGh.com