The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), has initiated a $6.5 million project aimed at rehabilitating three irrigation sites in Ghana. The project, titled “The Rehabilitation of Irrigation Schemes and Improvement of Irrigation Water Management,” was officially launched with beneficiary sites located in Dawhenya and Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, as well as Aveyime in the Volta Region.
The primary objective of the project is to enhance irrigation facilities in these regions, focusing on upgrading pumps, constructing drying floors, installing solar power systems, and increasing reservoir volumes. Additionally, the project emphasizes sustainability and capacity-building, aiming to empower water users’ associations (WUAs) and government officials with the necessary knowledge and skills.
The launch event, representing the Minister of Food and Agriculture, was overseen by Dr. Bryan Acheampong, the Deputy Minister in Charge of Crops, with Yaw Frimpong Addo expressing gratitude to the Korean government through KOICA for their financial support. Mr. Addo highlighted the project’s overarching goal of increasing farmers’ incomes, particularly those utilizing public irrigation schemes at the targeted sites.
Furthermore, Mr. Addo stressed the government’s commitment to modernizing and commercializing agriculture, as evidenced by the second edition of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ 2.0) initiative. He emphasized the importance of rehabilitating irrigation schemes to promote year-round farming and ensure food security, particularly in rice production.
Explaining the project’s rationale, KOICA Ghana Country Director Dong Hyun Lee underscored its significance in bolstering Ghana’s agricultural sector. Mr. Lee outlined the project’s components, designed to optimize irrigation water usage and maximize agricultural output, including repairing canals and land development.
KOICA’s support for the project stems from a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with MoFA in 2020, with an additional MoU with the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) for $2.55 million to rehabilitate the three irrigation schemes.
Richard Oppong-Boateng, Chief Executive of GIDA, commended KOICA for its dedication and collaboration, which have strengthened GIDA’s operations over the years. He highlighted the agency’s participation in KOICA fellowship programs, providing comprehensive training opportunities for engineers, agronomists, and WUAs in various aspects of irrigation both in Korea and Ghana.
The project launch attracted various stakeholders, including members of the WUA in the catchment sites, signaling a collective effort towards enhancing irrigation infrastructure and agricultural productivity in Ghana.