ADDIS ABABA- Experts urge further efforts to be exerted to revive the publics’ participation in the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). After briefing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on the current status of the Dam, Eng. Kifle Horo, GERD Project Manager stated that finalizing the Renaissance Dam is on top of the list, and will go as scheduled.
Director General of the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of the GERD, Roman Gebreselassie also noted that the Office is working earn estly to expand the public’s support towards the construction of the Dam. The public’s contribution is far less compared to previous years due to delays and information gap.
Transparency issues, and the extra cost on electro and mechanical works have demotivated the public not to participate in the financing of the grand project, she also noted. “We are working to reignite the peoples’ previous vibrant participation, and gain the public trust through different activities”. The Ethiopian Herald appr oached various experts to ask what kind of approaches should be applied in order to expand/elevate the peoples’ participation to the next level.
Dr. Hussien Adal Mohammed, Lecturer at Wollo University College of Natural Sciences, said that the participation of the Ethiopian people to the construction of GERD has been encouraging, but even more effort is needed moving forward. This is because the flagship project is not simply power station; rather it is the symbol of possibilities and the bond among all nations and nationalities, he noted.
“As to me, the Office for Coordinating Public Participation should widen its efforts along with local and abroad academic institutions.” He further noted that the academies of the Nile basin regions should setup a platform where they could exchange views. “In my view, the Council has to work with all Nile Basin countries like Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eritrea in order to mobilize resource seeing as how the project is more than a project of a single nation.
As to Abebe Chernet, Head of Communication at Addis Ababa Education Bureau, the participation should be re-approached in a wellorganized fashion along with other development projects. “We know GERD is believed to play significant role in realizing the country’s development goals when completed.” He said that the public servant and the public in general have rendered immense contributions to raise the fund for the construction of the Dam, but more funds could have been raised, he commented.
According to him, education is responsible in equipping skill, knowledge and attitude to the new generation, with a view to nurture the attitude needed to provide lasting contribution to this flagship project. Deputy Head of National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of GERD, Tagel Kenubh for his part said that it is possible to sustain the public’s participation given that the hearts and mind of the whole Ethiopian is on the project.
For him, the owner of the project is Ethiopians living here and abroad, as they have been providing support through finance, labor and knowledge to this landmark project with undying spirit. “Over three hundred thousand of people have visited GERD construction site so far, which is a huge demonstration of the public’s interest in the project. And the Council will strengthen its efforts in terms of working with various partners to sustain the participation, and providing reliable information.”
The education system has been doing great job from the primary to the last ladder in terms of making the coming generation aware of the positive impact of the project, and delivering facts that help build confidence in it. It was learnt that a total of 130 billion Birr is needed to finalize the Dam, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2022, according to the revised schedule.
The Ethiopian Herald, April 3/2019
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
