Threat to stalled Vea Irrigation dam wall project

Story: Benjamin Xornam Glover, Tono The Vea Irrigation Dam Project risk collapse if rehabilitation works is not resuscitated before the this year's raining seasons sets in. Rehabilitation works have stalled on the dam wall project as a results of disagreement between the contractor and some community members of Vea and according to the Vea Irrigation Dam Scheme Mr Joseph Mahama Salifu, if the disagreement is not sorted out immediately for the contractor to return to site, the dam wall, which have developed gullies as a result of a weakened boulders and erosion could give way. Mr Salifu said this when he briefed the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru and his deputy, Mr Daniel A. Syme during a working visit to the Irrigated Company of Upper Region, (ICOUR) site at Tono in the Kassena-Nankana East Municipality of the Upper East Region. The disagreement on rehabilitation works of dam wall at Vea has been as a result of disagreement between the contractor and some community members including the "Tindana" (Spiritual landowner) over access to some raw materials needed for the rehabilitation of the dam wall. As a result of the disagreement some youth embarked on a demonstration and the police intervention led to the shooting and killing of one of the young men, a university student. The project was awarded to Messrs Eunitack Services Exchange Limited in October 2010 and was expected to be completed in December of 2012. The Vea dam, apart from being an irrigation dam project also serves as a source of raw water intake for potable water treatment and supply to the over one million people in the Bolgatanga Municipality The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council has initiated steps to ensure that the rehabilitation works does not unduly delay but it appears the interventions haven't succeeded At Tono, the Scheme Manager Mr. Sebastian Bagina said some of the serious impact of the Toni project is seen in the improved livelihoods of the farmers within the project area. Today, we can see that more of our farmers are able acquire property and send this ward to school even up to the university level. He added that the community are also able to access fresh vegetables and this has led to improvement of nutritional status and also contributed to food security in the region. The project have also boosted employment as a number of youth are gainfully employed. He said a total of 1,500 out of the total of 2490 hectares of land for available are put under cultivation annually. he explained that the remain land is not utilized because those fields and the canals have become weak while others are under rehabilitation. He said in spite of some gains made, the project suffers some challenges, among which are the worsening drains and road infrastructure leading to the site. He said between the year 2007 and 2009, the Tono scheme witnessed a major rehabilitation of the main gravity system which has been in operation for the past 30 years. Mr. Bagina said the challenge now is with the secondary canals, that is the lower level canals which is impeding food production. Another challenge he said is the lack of appropriate machinery to aid land preparation, especially,considering the wet nature of the land and appealed to the government for assistance. The Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru said the initial visit was to familiarize himself with the project and also strategize with management on what steps to take to resolve them so as to boost food production in the region. "We believe agriculture can contribute so much to job creation. As a social Democratic Party, one of our core pillars is the development of the human capital so whatever we as RCC can do to ensure that the two scheme work effectively and efficiently," Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said. -end- writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh