We Oppose Merger of Akosombo and Bui Dams – Ahmed Ibrahim

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Banda constituency and Second Deputy Minority Chief Whip, has strongly opposed the government’s proposed merger of the Bui and Akosombo dams. Speaking on behalf of his constituents and stakeholders in the Bui Dam project, Hon. Ibrahim emphasized that they are vehemently against the move, expressing concerns about its potential negative impact.

He argued that merging the two dams would result in the dominance of Akosombo over Bui, undermining the progress and independence Bui Dam has achieved. He noted that Bui, which initially started with 4,000 kilowatts of power generation, has significantly expanded its capacity and added various projects, including factories, making it financially self-sufficient. He further stressed that if the merger proceeds, Bui’s resources could be diverted to compensate the victims of the Akosombo Dam who have long been neglected.

Hon. Ibrahim made these remarks during an exclusive interview on Tuesday, September 3, 2024, following the recall of Parliament. He warned that the merger would lead to excessive bureaucracy and pointed out that Akosombo, through the Volta River Authority (VRA), already holds shares in multiple thermal plants.

Concerns of State Capture

Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim also raised concerns that the decision to merge the two dams was motivated by state capture. He alleged that shares floated on the Ghana Stock Exchange would likely be acquired by government officials with the aim of taking control of state-owned assets, particularly in the energy sector.

He also questioned the involvement of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, who had recently been selected as the running mate for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP). Hon. Ibrahim found it puzzling that Dr. Opoku Prempeh had not stepped down from his position as Minister of Energy despite his nomination as the NPP’s running mate. He suggested that if the government wanted to promote democratic governance, it should consider decentralizing power rather than pursuing centralization through the merger.

By S. O. Ankamah || ghananewsonline.com.gh