Addis Ababa, October 23, 2026 (FMC) — Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has underscored that protecting the Megech Irrigation Dam in the country’s Amhara region is a public responsibility rather than a political choice, emphasizing that the project belongs to the people and that safeguarding its benefits is essential to Gondar’s development.
In his address at the dam’s inauguration, he also highlighted the need to turn Ethiopia’s development potential into tangible results, fulfill public commitments and accelerate development in the historic city and the wider Amhara Region.
Congratulating the residents of Gondar on the completion of the long-delayed project, the Prime Minister said the city deserved such development and much more. He described the inauguration as a significant moment after years in which the project remained unfinished while residents continued to face water shortages.
Prime Minister Abiy recalled visiting the area approximately two years earlier, when the project’s prolonged delay raised questions about whether what had become a source of frustration could finally be transformed into a public benefit. He said the project had remained unfinished for 19 years, consuming substantial resources without delivering the intended results to the people.
He described such prolonged delays as an injustice to the public, observing that a child born when the project began could now be approaching university age. The experience, he said, reflected a damaging practice that Ethiopia needed to change: projects must not be launched without the capacity and commitment to bring them to completion.
The Prime Minister explained that resolving the Megech project’s challenges required more than increasing its budget. The contractor was changed, and previously completed work that was unsuitable for the project and its setting was demolished before the construction was completed over approximately the past two years.
Abiy credited the turnaround to taking ownership of the work and ensuring that the project was brought to completion.
He stressed that public institutions must take responsibility for delivering on their commitments. If a government cannot carry out a project, it should not make promises it cannot fulfill; once a project is started, it must be completed so that the public can receive the benefits intended for it.
Turning to Ethiopia’s wider development trajectory, Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the country must translate its considerable potential into organized capacity and practical outcomes.
Water, he explained, is a natural resource, but its potential cannot be fully realized without the infrastructure and institutional capacity required to make it useful to farmers and communities. The Megech Dam illustrates how that potential can be converted into tangible benefits.
The project has a storage capacity of 185 million cubic meters and is designed to provide irrigation for more than 17,000 hectares of land.
It is also expected to strengthen access to clean drinking water in Gondar and nearby towns, while the resulting artificial lake offers opportunities for urban agriculture, large-scale fisheries, tourism and employment, particularly for young people.
The Prime Minister said Gondar’s development needs extend far beyond the completion of the dam. He described the project as a beginning rather than a reason for complacency, emphasizing that the city still had substantial development potential to realize.
He reaffirmed his commitment to working day and night to accelerate development in Gondar and the wider Amhara Region and to ensure that promises made to the public translate into completed projects.
Addressing the protection of the dam, Prime Minister Abiy stressed that it was built for the people, not for him personally. He said those who care about the public should protect the project rather than obstruct it, making clear that its value lies in the benefits it delivers to the community.
The Ethiopian leader called on residents to safeguard the opportunity created by the investment and ensure that the project serves its intended purpose.
He also called on Gondar’s residents to avoid wasting opportunities through disputes and instead work toward shared development priorities. He highlighted the role of local elders and young people in protecting the dam, fostering cooperation and ensuring that the city benefits from the opportunities now available.
Looking beyond irrigation and water supply, the Prime Minister underscored the importance of developing Gondar’s tourism and hospitality sector. He said the city needed more accommodation facilities so visitors could stay longer and experience its history, culture and natural environment rather than simply passing through.
Addressing businessman Kasahun, whom he praised for his work on development projects in Gorgora, Bahir Dar and Megech, Prime Minister Abiy proposed developing a tourism facility on the water in Gondar similar to the one in Gorgora. He noted the need for better accommodation in the city and said investment in such facilities could help Gondar attract more visitors, create jobs and expand its economic opportunities.
The Prime Minister also expressed his wish for more African leaders to visit Gondar during the annual Timket celebration, experience its cultural heritage and learn about Ethiopia’s contribution to African civilization. He pointed to the city’s historic legacy, including Fasil Ghebbi, as a place where visitors could gain a deeper appreciation of African history and civilization while meeting its welcoming people.
Prime Minister Abiy emphasized that the government’s development work was tied to nation-building and Ethiopia’s long-term future rather than electoral considerations. He called for continued public support for development efforts and reaffirmed his determination to complete projects and advance the country’s development.
Concluding his remarks, the Prime Minister congratulated Gondar’s residents on the inauguration of the Megech Dam while emphasizing that the city deserved much more. He presented the project’s completion as an opportunity to accelerate development, protect public investments and ensure that the benefits of Ethiopia’s resources reach the people.