The government has secured $125 million from the World Bank to rehabilitate the Vea irrigation dam in the Upper East Region, officials announced Thursday.
The funding, obtained through the West Africa Food Resilience Systems Project (FSRP), will finance repairs to the dam’s left bank canal, canal roads, laterals and main off-take valves. It will also support the installation of an automation system to regulate water supply.
“With the automation system, our operations officers can control water flow from their offices to serve more than 20 communities. This will greatly improve water delivery and farming productivity,” said Dominic Anarigde, managing director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), in an interview on Bolga FM.
Anarigde described the project as vital but expressed concern about sand winning around the dam, warning that the practice weakens its banks and reduces water storage capacity. “I have seen the damage caused by sand winning myself, and I appeal to everyone to stop. We cannot allow these practices to undermine such a massive investment,” he said.
He assured farmers and residents that the rehabilitation, once completed, would boost irrigation services, strengthen food security and improve the local economy. “This World Bank project is going to be massive, and I will do everything within my means to get it done,” he said.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Seidu Mutawakil Azangbeogo|Bolgatanga
