Nana Addo pledges to look into shoddy dam projects

President Nana Akufo-Addo has pledged to investigate allegations of shoddy work in the construction of dams under the government’s One Village One Dam project in northern Ghana.

According to the President, media reports about the poor quality of work on the dams will not be overlooked.

There are concerns that the implementation of the policy has so far been poor.

For example, the Upper East Region was allocated with 140 of the dams promised but only 40 are said to have been constructed so far, in all the 15 Municipalities and Districts of the region.

Speaking at a meeting with the Navrongo Traditional Council, Nana Akufo-Addo said the matter will be investigated.

“There are all kinds of criticisms being made about other parts of our policy. Apparently, some people up there are not satisfied with the dams that have been built.”

“I will be looking into these matters and at the appropriate time, I will have the opportunity to speak about these criticisms,” the President said.

The One Village One Dam project was a campaign promise by the President ahead of his election victory.

It is aimed at ensuring all year-round agriculture in the regions of the north, through the construction of irrigation dams in every village in that part of the country.

Under the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Programme in the 2017 budget, GHc94, 446,132 was earmarked for the programme.

The project forms part of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s key policy initiatives which are expected to cost over GHc2 billion.