President Mahama pays working visit to Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme

President John Mahama on Saturday paid a working visit to the Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme where a $3.6 million rehabilitation work is currently ongoing.

The project, which will rehabilitate the main irrigation system and the access roads in the area, will ensure all year cropping and attract more private sector investors to the enclave.

President Mahama inspected the state of the dilapidated pumping station and existing facilities at the site. As part of the works, a farmers training centre will be constructed for the training of farmers, students and researchers.

The Dawhenya Irrigation Scheme covers a total land area of 2,800 hectares, but according to officials of the Irrigation Development Authority, only 450 hectares has been developed with 250 hectares provided irrigation.

Two private investors and the National Service Scheme which are operating in the area, are currently using their own pumps to irrigate their fields.

President Mahama announced that government is also seeking funds for the second phase of the Dawhenya Irrigation project, and sent a message to all encroachers to move out of the Irrigation Scheme lands.

Work, he said, is about to start on the Accra Plains Irrigation Project covering 10,000 acres of land. He noted that the procurement processes for the selection of a contractor for the CDB funded project has just been completed.

He encouraged especially the young ones to go into agriculture and take advantage of the facilities and schemes available at the Ministry of Food & Agriculture. Ghana he said, is doing well in its quest to end hunger and ensuring food sufficiency, and pledged that his administration will roll out more irrigation and agricultural mechanisation schemes across the country.


Credit: Media Office, Flagstaff House Communications Bureau