The Ministry of Food and Agriculture, (MOFA) and Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, (GIDA), have handed over sites at Tokuu in the Nandom District of the Upper West Region to contractors for the construction of small-scale dams in Tokuu and Tuopari in the Nandom District as well as Sentu in the Lambussie District.
The Chief of Tokuu, Naa Dery Naalukuu Nicholas Yagr (middle in smock & hat) explaining a point at the site for the Dam at Tokuu
The ceremony also doubled as a symbolic presentation of four other sites for small-scale dams at Kataa and Douse in Wa East, Degri in Wa West and at Doung in Nadaowli-Kaleo District.
The Upper West Region is benefitting from seven out of the 14 small-scale dam projects to be constructed by MOFA and GIDA in Upper East, Northern, Savannah and Upper West Regions. Each dam is costing between 2 to 2.5 million Ghana Cedis depending on the topography of the site.
Some members of the Tokuu community at the site for the Dam
A Minister of State at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Nurah Gyiele speaking at meeting with members of the Tokuu community prior to the handing over of the sites, stated that “government is fully committed to providing the necessary infrastructure for development.
A Minister of State at MoFA, Dr. Nurah Gyiele (in blue black holding paper) at a community meeting before the visit to the Dam site at Tokuu
He said: “Of course, we are not only interested in providing money for the development of facilities; we are also fully committed to people centered development to improve the livelihoods of the people on the ground.”
Mr. Gyiele observed that the development of the dams will offer opportunities to the youth and women to help increase vegetable production in the dry season.
The Chief Executive Officer of GIDA, Wilson Darkwah pointed out that there is only one rainy season in Northern sector [Upper West] and that when people have access to ‘a small quantity of water in the dry season, it can greatly enhanced agriculture production saying the small-scale dams to be built represent MOFA and GIDAs contribution towards one village, one dam (1V1D) initiative.
The Chief of Tokuu, Naa Dery Naalukuu Nicholas Yagr speaking at the community meeting
The Chief of Tokuu, Naa Dery Naalukuu Nicholas Yagr was very grateful to the authorities for getting an unknown village on the map through the project and promised that they will support the contractors to deliver.
