Upper East Regional Minister Donatus Akamugri Atanga has endorsed the World Bank’s $125 million funding for rehabilitating the Vea Dam and other irrigation projects, calling it transformative for agriculture and youth employment in northern Ghana.
The financing, approved under the West Africa Food Systems Resilience Program, targets 850 hectares of farmland at Vea through canal repairs, climate-smart systems, and road upgrades.
“As the president’s representative, this is vital for our region,” Atanga stated during a Vea Dam community engagement.
He revealed Upper East was initially excluded from rehabilitation plans until his direct appeal to the Agriculture Minister secured inclusion. The project aligns with President Mahama’s “Feed Ghana” policy emphasizing mechanization and import substitution.
Atanga urged youth to embrace farming as a livelihood: “This is a deliberate job-creation strategy.” He warned communities against encroaching on canal zones, pledging full regional government support for implementation.
Dominic Anarigide, Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Regions (ICOUR), confirmed technical assistance for the project, noting it reverses “years of neglect” at the critical dam.
“Vea is a lifeline for thousands,” Anarigide emphasized. “We’ll train farmers to maximize upgraded water efficiency and climate-resilient technologies.”
The intervention comes as Ghana’s parliament reviews the financing package, with Northern Caucus MPs pushing for swift approval to enable year-end construction starts.
