Cabinet has approved $700 million for the construction of a multipurpose dam at Pwalugu in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

The dam, when constructed, will mitigate the perennial flooding in the area caused by the annual spillage of excess water from the Bagre Dam in neighbouring Burkina Faso.

Upper East Regional Minister, Mrs Paulina Patience Abayage disclosed this at a press soiree and staff durbar in Bolgatanga at the weekend to commemorate her 100 days in office.

She said: “The Pwalugu dam is supposed to be a multipurpose dam”, adding that Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is in charge of the project.

“It is costing the country $700 million. Cabinet has approved”.

“Cabinet has approved that we have the Pwalugu dam and as I speak with you, we have a lot of interest groups including the African Development Bank and the vice-president and president are so committed to it that if there is any project that is so sure to happen, sooner before the end of the year we will cut the sod to start work.”