The government will complete all 560 dams across the northern part of the country by December 2020.
It has constructed 300 out of the total 560 dams to ensure all year-round farming at a cost of GHȻ250,000 per dam under the One Village One Dam project in all five regions of the North.
Contrary to reports of
shoddy work done in the first phase of the project, the government is impressed
with work done so far with 80 per cent completion.
A committee will soon be constituted to develop
and implement safety measures around the projects, however, delay in payment of
contractors working on projects is accounting for late completion of projects.
Some beneficiary communities such as Denegu,
Yabrago and Meyogo in the Garu and Tempane districts respectively, commended
the government for the intervention.
Hawa Koomson, the Minister
of Special Development Initiative, expressed satisfaction with progress of work
on construction of dams under the One Village One Dam project in the five
regions of the North.
She conceded that implementation of any
government programme would be met with some difficulties, however, the
government was on course to successfully complete the projects it promised the
people.
“In Upper East Region, 83 out of 150 are
being constructed and are at various stages of completion, but have been faced
with some challenges, phase one of construction of the dams have been
satisfactory, their construction are ongoing, we are 80 per cent under completion,
spillways, embankment, grazing and other ones will sum up to 20 per cent to
make up 100 per cent, we want the project to be completed.
“We have seen the phase one of the projects, there
was lot of water in most dams but others did not have water because of rainfall
pattern, I am satisfied with work done so far, by the time they are completed,
we will realise it needed to be done even though not completed.
“The contractors have not been given their money, ministry does not give mobilisation, contractors will do the work, when we are satisfied, they raise certificates for payment, some contractors have not even received a pesewa yet, work is delaying and we are waiting for payment to continue with the rest of the phases.
“I will decline to comment on challenges confronting construction, but the ministry, consultants and contractors executing the projects will resolve issues facing the project,” Ms Koomson assured. –citinewsroom.com
