The Dasobligo community in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region is facing a critical situation regarding its dam, one of the largest in the region. Originally constructed in the late 1970s, the dam has long been a crucial resource, providing water for farming, animal husbandry, construction, and even fishing.
However, years of neglect—particularly of the canals that once facilitated irrigation farming—have significantly diminished its functionality, according to the Assembly Member for the Dasobligo Electoral Area, Alex Asina Anongduknaba.
Following a documentary by A1 Radio’s Samuel Adogom, Mr. Anongduknaba highlighted the importance of the dam, noting that it has the capacity to irrigate between 300 and 400 acres of land. However, the collapse of the irrigation canals has rendered the system non-functional, leading to a decline in farming activities in the area.
In an interview on A1 Radio, the assembly member revealed that despite raising concerns about the dam during his first term in office, a lack of funding has hindered efforts to repair it. The district’s limited internal revenue generation (IGF) and heavy reliance on the Common Fund have made it difficult to address critical infrastructure concerns.
“During my first term in office, I raised this issue in the assembly several times, and the authorities were willing to work on it. However, due to the nature of the Nabdam District Assembly, we are facing serious financial constraints. Our IGF is nothing to write home about, and we always rely on the Common Fund, which is not always sufficient. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get it fixed before I left office, and now that I am back, the situation remains the same. So, the assembly is fully aware of the problem,” he explained.
He pointed out that the dam once played a vital role in the local economy by supporting irrigation farming, allowing the community to supply vegetables to major markets in Congo and Pwalugu. However, with the canals in disrepair, only a few farmers can now access these markets, significantly reducing income generation for the community.
“During a good farming season, we supply vegetables to the Congo and Pwalugu markets, and traders pay taxes when they go to sell. But now, only one or two people can take their vegetables to market because the canals are no longer usable,” he lamented.
The assembly member remains hopeful for a timely intervention from the government or non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to restore the dam to its full potential, benefiting both local farmers and the wider community.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
