Ethiopia's Koysha Hydroelectric Power Project has reached a height of 128 meters, Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed announced this week, using the milestone to champion the nation’s resilience and a new development mindset focused on innovation and speed.

Speaking from the dam site during a government review of the year’s first 100 days, PM Abiy highlighted the dam’s rapid construction. He noted that Koysha now stands just 17 meters shorter than the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a particularly impressive feat given that Koysha was started "from scratch."

The Prime Minister credited the construction success not to financial power but to "the unity and cooperation of Ethiopians," with dedicated citizens working day and night. He specifically commended the "laudable" involvement of the local community and pointed to the numerous skilled experts developed through the project as an invaluable national asset.

Addressing skeptics and the nation’s persistent domestic challenges, PM Abiy adopted an illustrative tone. He likened external pressures to a razor, stating that even though a razor cuts hair and nails periodically, it "cannot stop the growth of something that is growing."

He argued that the nation’s successful completion of major projects, despite adversity, is a result of turning challenges into opportunities. The key, he said, is a fundamental shift in perspective.

Reinforcing this point, Adam Farah, Head of the Center for Coordination of Democratic System Building, said the ability to sustain rapid economic growth despite global geopolitical and market volatility was the direct result of this “change in perspective.” 

He attributed the nation's success to three factors: the paradigm shift in thinking, the commitment and execution capacity of the leadership, and the increased participation of the public and private sectors.

The government, he assured, will continue its efforts, working with the public to address remaining issues like the cost of living and job creation.