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The Government's interest in the project was revived in 1949 with the appointment of Sir William Halcrow and Partners to prepare a report on the potential uses of the Volta River Basin. The report published in 1951, recommended that in view of the widespread effects it will have on the life and economy of the country the project should be undertaken as a Government enterprise under the control of the Volta River Authority; the production of aluminium however should be entrusted to private companies who would contract with the Authority for power. The report also recommended the appointment of a Special Commissioner to co-ordinate and direct the preparatory work then being carried out by various departments of the Government pending the establishment of the Authority. In the meantime a joint mission sponsored by the British Aluminium Company and Aluminium Limited of Canada investigated and reported favourably on the prospects of an aluminium industry as a part of the project.
Main Civil Works Contract
In September 1960, tenders were invited on a world-wide basis for the construction of the main civil engineering works which included the dam, saddle dam, powerhouse, intake structure and appurtenances.
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In May 1961 an award was made to the Italian consortium, Impresit-Girola- Lodigiani, S.p.A. and Impresa Costr. Ing. E. Recchi in the sum of approximately Ghana Pounds16,000,000 and mobilization by the contractor of equipment and work force started soon after. The Contract was later assigned by Impresit-Girola-Lodigiani S.p.A. and Impresa Costr. Ing. E. Reechi to Impregilo and Co. (Ghana) Limited in November 1961
Supply Contracts
In June 1961, the Government of Ghana invited manufactures and contractors by world-wide advertisement to submit tenders for the supply of major items of equipment and for certain installations under nine proposed separate contracts. The tenders were received in Accra in October 1961 and after analysis and evaluation by the Engineer, Kaiser Engineers and Constructors, Inc., the Volta River Authority which had meanwhile been established on the 12th December, 1961 awarded contracts to the recommended low tenderers on 29th December, 1961.
In 23rd January, 1962 a colourful ceremony was held at the dam site to mark the official launching of the project. Osagyefo the President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, unveiled the commemorative plaque.
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Early Investigations:
Nearly half a century ago in 1915, Mr. E.A. Kitson of the Gold Coast Geological Survey Department drew attention to the potentialities of the Volta River as a source of hydro-electric power and linked it with the deposit of bauxite which he had discovered the previous year in the development of an aluminium industry. Serious proposals for this dual development were first made by the Gold Coast Government in 1924 but were not proceeded with. Between 1938 and 1945, Mr. Duncan Rose, a private entrepreneur carried out field surveys in connection with the project and proceeded to acquire certain concessions in the country. His activities were carried further by the West African Aluminium Company, WAFAL, of which he became its first Chairman in 1945. Aluminium Limited of Canada acquired an interest in the project in 1949.
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