Government Urged to Allocate Sufficient Resources for One Village One Dam Initiative

Dr. Felix Abagale

The Dean of the newly created Faculty of Engineering at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr. Felix Abagale, has observed that for the government’s one village one dam initiative to succeed there is the need for “sufficient financial resources” to be allocated for the sectors growth. 

According to him, there is also a need for the government to engage experts in the design of projects and training of users, cautioning that “this should be devoid of partisan politics”.

Speaking at the first International Conference on Irrigation and Agricultural Development (IRAD) in Tamale, Dr. Abagale indicated, the UDS was ready to collaborate with the government in the implementation of the initiative.

Under the theme: “Irrigation and Agricultural Development: Prospects and Challenges for the Sector’s Growth”, the IRAD conference sought to create a common platform for all irrigation and agricultural sector players especially research scientists, local authorities, farmers, governmental and nongovernmental organisations to deliberate on the sectors growth.

The two-day conference also sought to promote exchange of innovative ideas amongst sector players in the sub-region, encourage investment through the identification of opportunities in the sector and establish linkages for financing opportunities.

Participants came from Africa, Europe and the United States of America. They comprised of academics, researchers, policy makers, civil society, students and among others.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor of UDS, Professor Alhassan Seidu who read a speech on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, said Ghana had an irrigation potential of 1.9 million hectares but only 11.6 percent (221,000 hectares) was being used.

This, he said, meant that the potential investable area of 88.4 percent of the irrigable potential provided a significant investment opportunity in Ghana. 

Prof. Seidu called on the private sector to consider investments in the irrigation sector especially in Northern Ghana where there was abundance of water during the rainy season.

“The provision of small dams and dugouts for the purposes of harvesting rainwater as well as flood waters and also the construction of tube wells have the potential to greatly contribute to reducing the hunger period through increased agricultural activities such as dry season farming”, he opined.

He further stated that, the University for Development Studies was well positioned with effective human resources characterized by expertise in irrigation and agricultural development. 

“Particularly, aside having irrigation agronomists, soil and water conservation experts, economists, there are also experts in the university with skills in the design of dams and dugouts.

“Since its establishment in 1992 the university has supported and will forever support the delivery of improved irrigation and agricultural development in Ghana and beyond through training and the provision of technical consultancy services especially for the savannah zone”, Prof. Seidu noted.