Information reaching this website suggests that the contractor scheduled to rehabilitate the Vea Irrigation Dam has begun moving to site.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, handed over the Vea Supply and Irrigation Scheme in the Bongo District to Messrs. Rann Luuk Constructions for rehabilitation in March 2022.
The rehabilitation was expected to be completed in 30 months.
Details of the contract work included the restoration of the eroded downstream slope of the dam embankment to improve the dam’s stability, rehabilitation of the irrigation canal network, drainage work, construction of farm roads, and perimeter fencing of the irrigable area.
At a ceremony to officially hand over the site, the Regional Minister called for quality work from the Contractor within the scheduled time frame to enable farmers in the area to continue with their farming activities.
When asked about the reasons for the delay of the rehabilitation project, Mr. Yakubu explained that the delays were associated with the source of funding for the project.
“Initially, the Ministry was trying to rehabilitate it [the Vea Dam] themselves, but now, the World Bank has agreed to actually give us money to do it and that is what is delaying. We are actually working out the modalities and everything to even have more money to do it better. That is what is delaying the project,” he said.
Speaking on the Day Break Upper East Show today, the Regional Farm Services Manager at Irrigation Company of Upper Regions (ICOUR) said the contractor has begun moving equipment to site.
“Everything is on course. We actually expected the contractor to have been around by now but there were a few delays … he [the contractor] is in the region. He’s moving to the site and work will start very soon. We are having a meeting this weekend at the Vea office to discuss the way forward. The contractor has actually started moving his equipment to the site. He is at the Vea office now. I can say everything is ready to take off,” he said.
All details related to the project, particularly, the contract sum, would be made clear after the meeting among the contractor, ICOUR, the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), and all other related stakeholders.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
