The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has called upon the government to empower and resource the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) to take full control of the One Village One Dam (1V1D) program in Ghana.
The PFAG made this plea during a stakeholder dialogue on irrigation development held in Accra, organized with support from GIZ under the Sustainable Employment through Agribusiness (Agribiz) program.
The dialogue shed light on the shortcomings of the 1V1D program, particularly concerning the involvement of private contractors and the subsequent construction of substandard and dysfunctional dams, primarily affecting farmers in the Northern regions of Ghana.
Dr. Charles Nyaaba, the Executive Director of PFAG, expressed disappointment in the implementation arrangements of the 1V1D policy, noting the absence of GIDA’s involvement in overseeing dam construction. Instead, contracts were awarded to private contractors by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, some of whom lacked the requisite expertise in dam construction.
Dr. Nyaaba highlighted instances where contractors sold contracts, leading to reduced funds allocated for construction work. Moreover, he pointed out that the inexperience of these contractors resulted in poorly sited dug-outs with inferior engineering, posing safety hazards for farmers.
Mr. Wepia Addo Awulgwa, President of PFAG, echoed these concerns, urging the government to invest in irrigation development and utilize relevant state agencies, like GIDA, for such projects. He emphasized the urgent need for attention to uncompleted irrigation schemes across the country, which have been neglected by the government.
The stakeholder dialogue convened various actors, including farmers, civil society organizations (CSOs), officials from GIDA, and the media. It provided a platform for PFAG to present research findings on irrigation development in Ghana, focusing on deficiencies within the 1V1D program. Notably, research on the Vunania and Gia dams in the Upper East Region highlighted numerous defects hindering their usability by farmers.
A policy brief outlining recommendations for enhancing irrigation development in Northern Ghana was presented to GIDA for consideration. The PFAG’s advocacy underscores the importance of effective collaboration between government agencies and stakeholders to ensure the success of agricultural initiatives like the 1V1D program and ultimately improve livelihoods in rural communities.