A small-scale irrigation dam, constructed under the then Ministry of Special Development Initiative as part of the government’s One Village One Dam (1V1D) policy in the Bolgatanga Soe Central area in the Upper East Region, is no longer functional, according to the Assemblyman for the area, Lambert Akunzebe.
It will be recalled that as part of the government’s effort to increase food production in the northern half of the country, 570 small earth dams were to be constructed. The dams would have sustained farming even through the dry season.
The promise notwithstanding, the Assemblyman for the Bolga-Soe Electoral Area, Lambert Akunzebe, described the project as a failed government policy, making direct reference to the dam constructed in his area.
Mr. Akunzebe explained that the dam had almost run out of water, and as a result, one farmer had taken to farming directly in the dam during the dry season in order to be closer to the rapidly diminishing patch of water.
He spoke to Mark Smith on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show today, Thursday, January 26, 2023.
“When they first constructed the dam, in about 2 or 3 months, we lost 4 young gentlemen to the dam; aged between 5 and 6. When I was coming to the studio today, I passed by the dam. Within the premises of the dam, someone has gone to fence a garden, and is doing some domestic farming, Yes, in the dam. You know, once the water is drying up, it goes to the deepest part, so he [the farmer] thinks it is also good to move closer to the water. When you get closer to the water, you can easily fetch the water. The way the water is, you cannot even pump with the pumping machine,” he said.
According to Mr. Akunzebe, he’s yet to be informed by the farmer, his reasons for citing his garden in the dam.
He continued to say that the community members are meeting on the matter and would and would make a final decision on the fate of the dam soon.
Left to the Assemblyman alone, the land should be reclaimed by the original land owners and repurposed because the dam has failed to serve its purpose.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
