The Abbay Hydro Dam, which is also called the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), is a project stoked with a number of potent nationalistic fervor among the Ethiopians and friends of Ethiopia because everyone had the highest regrets for not developing and utilizing their own water resources for long, mainly the Abbay River.
Due to this, it was with greater joy and excitement that the people of Ethiopia, those living at home and abroad, welcomed the news and vowed to support the construction of the Dam on Abbay River at all means.
It is clear that, though Ethiopia is endowed with abundant water resources, millions of its people are still living in the dark. Hundreds and thousands of little girls and women, instead of going to school, are forced to travel long distances to collect firewood and prepare food with harmful and polluting fuels in a way risking their health and polluting the air. The construction of the Dam, in this regard, is a thing that all Ethiopians have been waiting for long and a matter they would not compromise it whatever it is.
From the time the cornerstone of the Dam was laid by the late Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Ethiopians have been striving to participate in the construction of the Dam regardless of their political differences, social, economic and educational status or any other grounds. As part of this commitment, within the past 13 years, Ethiopians living at home and the Diaspora community, using various fund raising mechanisms have contributed over 19 billion Birr, according to the National Council for the Coordination of Public Participation on the Construction of the GERD.
Currently, the construction of this monumental project has reached its final stage with the firm commitment and unbeatable spirit of Ethiopians. At present, Ethiopians are marking the 13 anniversary of the GERD with various events.
Approached by The Ethiopian Herald in relation to the 13th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the GERD, Expert at Shoa Robit Town Administration Council, Amhara State, Tsehaye Asnake said that the construction of the Dam is a game changer to Ethiopia in many ways. It is their source of pride and a project that helps to unchain millions of people from the yoke of poverty and disproves the assumption of some global financial institutions and donors. It has also conveyed an important message to the rest of the world how Ethiopians can make history while uniting.
“Now, the construction of the Dam has reached the stage of completion; so everyone should keep on mobilizing resources. I have been willingly and actively participating in resource mobilization and contributing my share for consecutive years.”
GERD is a flagship project that all Ethiopians should finance; it has nothing to do with the ideological attitude or any differences because it is a public development project. Thus, she urged fellow citizens to continue supporting the project because the owner of the project is the general public.
According to her, no one has the legal right or moral courage to blame Ethiopia in its effort to build a Dam on its own water body, the Abbay River, because the country has historic and legal rights to harness its resources.
Moges Temesgen is a resident of Addis Ababa. For his part said that the participation of the society should go on in the same tempo as it had been over the past 13 years, because the nation is in high demand for power. Moreover, it is a project that answers the query of the people of Ethiopia.
“I have been supporting the project starting from the day the cornerstone of the Dam was laid to this day; I believe the project is the sign of Ethiopians epitome in the face of a number of adversaries.”
According to him, Ethiopia is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. On the other hand, almost half of its citizens do not have access to electricity. In addition, 60 percent of Ethiopians are under 30 and; each year two million new job seekers enter the market, creating a quandary for the government on how to meet this enormous demand for employment. To address this and sustain the country’s economic growth, thereby realizing its development aspirations, addressing such challenges transforming the electricity sector is of critical importance. In this regard, GERD plays a crucial role. Thus, Ethiopians, regardless of any differences, should keep on supporting the construction of the Dam until it is completed.
“We know that over the past years, the government has set up several industrial parks with the aim to attract investors, create jobs for citizens, transfer technology, boost foreign exchange earnings and promote sustainable economic growth. Needless to say, all manufacturing quarters need power to operate efficiently; in this respect, GERD is a game changer. From now onward, Ethiopia should not remain synonymous with hunger.”
Ethiopian Maritime Authority logistic Department Import and Export Senior Data Expert Tsegazeab Araya also said that GERD is commenced with high trust in the general public not in donors. This was also demonstrated over the past thirteen years. Ethiopians, by purchasing dam bonds, taking part in programs arranged to raise funds and by giving gifts have confirmed their commitment. Without doubt, they will keep on financing the project in every possible way, he added.
“I have bought bonds and participated in resource mobilization programs for two years in a row, and through 8100 SMS. I will never quit mobilizing resources because it is my Dam.”
According to him, Ethiopians are now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel; because the project they aspired to see its completion has reached the point of its phase. “In my view, Ethiopia is now at the potent time where it is stepping swiftly to eradicate and make poverty a thing of the past.
According to recent information obtained from the Office of the National Coordination for the Construction of GERD, the construction of the Dam has reached 95 percent; with the civil work has grown 98 percent while 78 percent of the electromechanical work has already been completed.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 5 APRIL 2024
