Ethiopia: Diaspora Members Visit GERD, Hail It As 'Ethiopia's Liquid Gold' On the Abay River

What the report says

Members of the Ethiopian diaspora visited the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) in Addis Ababa, with the trip reported by the Ethiopian News Agency and distributed by AllAfrica. The visitors, who came from cities including Denver, London, Toronto and Washington, said seeing the project in person was an emotional moment after years of supporting it from abroad.

The article says more than 50 diaspora members toured the dam, which sits on the Abay River and is described as Africa’s largest hydropower project. The GERD has now entered operation, a milestone for Ethiopia’s efforts to expand electricity generation and meet growing demand. Several visitors praised the dam as a symbol of national achievement and referred to it as “Ethiopia’s liquid gold.”

The report also highlights the diaspora’s wider role in the project. According to the Ethiopian Diaspora Service, support included fundraising, lobbying, and international advocacy during construction, which began in 2011. The diaspora also mobilized funds after completion, and the article cites a figure of 3.2 million US dollars in post-completion contributions.

Beyond power production, the story presents GERD as a rallying point for Ethiopians at home and abroad. In general, large infrastructure projects like this often carry political and symbolic weight as well as economic value, and the article frames the dam as both an engineering landmark and a development message for Ethiopia.