Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, has debunked earlier media reports suggesting that the contractor for the Pwalugu Dam project was not paid.
According to the Energy Minister, claims attributed to him that the Pwalugu Dam contractor was not paid are false and a misrepresentation of his remarks.
The Energy Minister, in a statement shared on Facebook, clarified that explicitly stated that the contractor had been paid but subsequently absconded with the funds.
In a Facebook post shared, John Jinapor wrote, “My attention has been drawn to a publication circulating on some social media handles with the headline: ‘Pwalugu Dam contractor was not paid – Energy Minister reveals,’ which has been falsely attributed to remarks I allegedly made during my appearance before the Government Assurances Committee of Parliament.
I wish to state, in the clearest possible terms, that this publication is entirely false, misleading, and a gross misrepresentation of the facts.
During my appearance before the Committee—proceedings which were broadcast live across television and other media platforms—at no point did I make the claims attributed to me.
On the contrary, I explicitly stated that the contractor had been paid but subsequently absconded with the funds without executing any corresponding work.
I further informed the Committee that the matter is under active investigation and has been formally referred to the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice for advice and possible prosecution.
In response to a follow-up question from the Chairman seeking clarification, I reiterated that the contractor was not paid for any work done, thereby reaffirming my earlier position.
The attempt to distort these facts is not only unfortunate but also undermines public discourse and confidence in the management of critical national issues.
I therefore urge the general public to disregard this false and mischievous publication in its entirety. I also call on media practitioners and the general public to verify information from credible and official sources before dissemination.
Government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and ensuring that all matters of public interest are handled with the utmost integrity”.
Earlier, appearing before Parliament’s Assurances Committee on Tuesday, March 24, the Minister said efforts are underway to revive the project despite the setback.
“We are considering the Pwalugu Dam; unfortunately, the contractor took the money and bolted, let me put it that way, and left Ghana, so I have been working with the Ministry of Finance to secure funding because that funding has been exhausted”, he stated.
The current problem this country faces is that under the IMF programme, you can hardly raise external funding unless it is free money or what we call a grant. We are making good progress. Once we complete the IMF program, it will then give you the leverage to source funding”.
Meanwhile, the Pwalugu Dam was a flagship project under the former Akufo-Addo government, expected to transform agriculture and energy supply in northern Ghana.
In 2019, the project was initiated under a $993 million Sinohydro agreement and was designed as a hydro-solar hybrid system expected to generate 60 megawatts of hydropower and 50 megawatts of solar energy.
The project was also intended to support year-round irrigation and control flooding caused by spillage from the Bagre Dam.
With a completion date set at 2024, the project has still not been realised by 2026, with the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority revealing that about $12 million was spent on mobilisation and site preparation, yet actual construction has yet to begin.
See the post below:
Ignore the mischievous publication. Hon. Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor stated categorically that the contractor was paid and had bolted with the funds!
— Richmond Rockson, Esq. (@MrRockson) March 24, 2026
The publication that the contractor wasn’t paid is not only inaccurate but deliberately misleading. pic.twitter.com/u9wEUk3PhW