The Minister of Special Development Initiatives, Mavis Hawa Koomson will soon embark a visit to the Upper East Region to have a first-hand information on the implementation of 1 Village 1 Dam policy after A1 Radio’s documentary, ‘Thirsty Dams of the North’ revealed the shoddy nature of the much-propagated dams by the government.
The documentary examined the nature of the dams executed in the region as promised by the government. At least 6 individuals have died in the region due to contractual defects of the policy.
But speaking for the first time, Public Relations Officer of the Ministry, Awudu Moro Kabore said the sector Minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson has taken note of concerns raised in the documentary and will soon visit the region to have first-hand information.
“She has taken notice of every concern raised in the documentary and very soon she will visit the region and monitor some of the projects that have been completed and on ongoing.
Mr. Kabore indicated that the Minister will use the occasion to commensurate with families of the relatives who got drowned in the 1 Village 1 Dams.
But speaking on the specification of the dams as to whether they are dugouts or dams, Mr. Kabore said the dams which were designed by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority have a dugout in the middle of each dam.
“We have heard people say, we are rather doing dugouts but not dams and I am refuting that claim. In the middle of each dam, there is a dugout within a small dam and unfortunately that is what is causing the death of some people”, he said.
About the cost of dams under the policy, the PRO said each dam cost less than Ghc 2.5 million as claimed by the Minister of Agriculture.
“We are the implementers of the project and I cannot tell where the Minister of Agric had his information. None of our dams is costing Ghc 2.5 million. Our dams ranges between Ghc 200,000 to Ghc 250,00, it doesn’t go beyond Ghc 2.5 million”
The ministry however disagreed with assessment of the project by a development planner. President of Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies, Professor David Millar scored the much touted policy as failure.
Professor Millar who lauded the 1 Village 1 Dam policy was quick to add that the location of the dams however makes the project a misplaced priority. This statement however, makes it distasteful to the sector ministry which in sharp rebuttal describes professor Millar’s assessment as unfortunate.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Joshua Asaah
