Some of the dams built by government under the 1 village 1 dam initiative have dried up after just one week of harmattan, MyNewsGH.com has learnt.
Under the One Village One Dam flagship programme, the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, in collaboration with other government agencies led by Mavis Hawa Koomson identified a total of 560 sites for the construction of Small Earth Dams in the Northern, Upper East and West, North West and Savannah Regions of Ghana.
Mrs Koomson, who is also the MP for Awutu Senya East, said the cost of the Small Earth Dam, was on the average GH¢250,000.00
“This is a deal for villages and communities in the five Northern Regions and will serve them under all circumstances.
She said over the period, the Ministry in collaboration with the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, the Northern Development Authority and the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Northern Regions identified the sites, and each constituency in the northern parts of the country had been allocated a total of 10 Small Earth Dams and had built the dams with others at various stages of completion.
However, after only a week of harmattan, most of the dams built by Hawa Koomson have dried up leaving its users in frustration. A picture of one such dams which has gone viral on social media showed the completed Nakpachei dam in the Northern Region dried up into the bare earth.
The ministry in reaction is circulating pictures of dams with water denying those claims. It was, however, revealed that those pictures were taken two years ago when the dams were newly built.
The Minister of Special Development Initiative, Mavis Hawa Koomson who is leading the initiative says she is satisfied with the work done on the construction of the dams under the One-Village-One-Dam project in the five regions of the North.
The Ministry said contrary to reports of shoddy work done in the first phase of the project, they are impressed with the work done so far. She said this in July last year.
270 small dams being constructed in all constituencies across the three Northern Region – Koomson
According to Mavis Hawa Koomson, the implementation of any government programme will be met with some difficulties, however, government is on course to successfully complete the 560 dams promised the people of the Northern part of the country by the end of 2020.
Government is currently constructing 300 dugouts out of 560 across the northern part of the country to ensure all year-round farming at a cost of GHC250,000 per dugout.
In the Upper East Region, 83 out of 150 dugouts are being constructed and are at various stages of completion but have been faced with some challenges.
Source: Ghanaweb.com
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Hahaha de dams are drying up and people think we should not talk about it well dat is ghana for you wen you choose to construct a bad dam de results is wat we are hearing now so is a campaign promised so any shoddy work is permitted and ghana looses money through some of this means all de time God help us all
Poor Ghana Journalism!!! For when we put the people first? These dams are for our benefit. We the People not those "term governments". Hopefully we can figure out how to benefit from it in the right season. I think this money is better spent than all the ones that got into the pockets of those government officials. We know many of the bought home in UK and USA for millions. Let's support 1V1D for better farming in the Northern Ghana
I predicted this situation when i read the NPP manifesto. I spent about 6 weeks in upper west and knew immediately that surface waters are vulnerable. Surface water for irrigation purposes in the North of Ghana will always face excessive evaporation due to high heat blowing from the Sahara Desert. I I expected an intensive research into ground water development for this kind of irrigation. NPP made the same mistake NDC made
@Abeko .... keep your mouth shut and enjoy the fruit of your labour...where were u when the NPP chastised the NDC about the guinea fowl flying to Burkina .... in Ghana everything is politics.....keep quite and stop what you are saying...#ghanawedey
People talk as if the man made dams can not dry up during this season. Come to Burkina all dams constructed are dry up even including the biggest a mining company constructed for the state. Australia is now experinces heavy fire but if it is in Ghana you see those people call expecties will say government is not doing well. Even all boleholes are dry up in Burkina and nothing parts in Ghana. Lets stop this dirty polities and move the country forward. I worked in Burkina fasso as expart in Endveavour Mining so I know what am talking about.
Don't display your ignorance on matters you don't have any knowledge. The dams are for irrigation purposes unlike borehole which is for drinking purpose, its unfortunate it is drying during the harmattan.
WHEN VERY SMALLER VILLAGES IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF GHANA ARE BEIGN GIVEN PIPE BORN WATER AND ON WORSE SITUATIONS BOREHOLDS RESIDENTS IN THE NORTH ARE CONTENT WITH DRY DAMS. IS THAT WHAT YOU DESERVE AS A PEOPLE? THE VICE PRESIDENT SITS THERE AND MAKES SO MUCH NOICE ABOUT THIS WHEN OTHERS ARE GETTING BETTER THINGS.