Finance and Administrative Manager for ICOUR, Mr. Peter Agao has disclosed a rehabilitation and modernization of the Tono and Vea Dams in the offing to help provide water for irrigation during the dry season.
According to him, though the physical rehabilitation is yet to start, what is being done currently is feasibility studies by the consultants of the old program which was preceded by a retrenchment of staff.
“The first stage was retrenchment of the staff. Currently, we are in the second stage and the old consultant to the old program has been tasked to undertake consultations. He is now doing feasibility studies. Now he is organizing meetings with all the stakeholders. So far he has had more than six meetings with farmer groups, the District Assembly and even the Regional Coordinating Council.” He told Azongo Albert.
He mentioned that after the design work is done by the consultant, the project will be considered by the Government through Ghana Commercial Agricultural Project (GCAP) to see whether it is appreciated by all stakeholders before the contract is opened for international bidding.
He noted that farmers have been made an integral part of the consultation process because the farmers will have an oversight duty over the canal when the project is completed.
He added that this will bring an end to theft of water by farmers and destruction of the canal for water which hitherto was the order of the day.
This rehabilitation and modernization of the dams according to Mr. Agao is financed by the World Bank and USAID.
“The project is sponsored by World Bank which is providing 30% whereas USAID is providing 70% of the finance for this project.”
He assured farmers that the rehabilitation of the dams is going to help them in increasing their yield but called on them to involve themselves in the process and ask relevant questions because they will be in charge of managing the project.
By: Offei-Akoto Ayeh | A1RADIOONLINE.com | GHANA
