The government has inaugurated a new Board of Directors for the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR), charging members to safeguard the strategic Tono and Vea irrigation schemes and ensure they continue to drive food production and livelihoods in the Upper East Region and across Ghana.
The move forms part of government’s renewed push to strengthen irrigation agriculture as climate change and erratic rainfall increasingly threaten rain-fed farming, with the Tono and Vea dams expected to play an even greater role in guaranteeing year-round food production.
The swearing-in ceremony was held on Tuesday at the Office of the Upper East Regional Minister in Bolgatanga, where the North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, administered the oath of office on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
Addressing the newly constituted board, Mr. Tia described the Tono and Vea irrigation schemes as critical national assets that have sustained agricultural production for more than four decades by providing reliable water for thousands of smallholder farmers.
He said with changing weather patterns posing a growing threat to agriculture, the government is prioritising irrigation development to secure the country’s food supply and improve farmers’ livelihoods.
“The expectation is that the board will provide strong leadership, uphold transparency and accountability, and improve the operational efficiency of ICOUR so that farmers and surrounding communities derive the maximum benefits from these irrigation schemes,” he said.
Mr. Tia stressed that government remains committed to investing in irrigation infrastructure to expand dry-season farming, increase agricultural productivity and build resilience against climate change.
The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, who was sworn in as Board Chairman, said the board fully appreciates the strategic importance of the Tono and Vea dams to the region’s economy and Ghana’s food security agenda.
He thanked President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the confidence reposed in the board and pledged to justify the trust placed in them.
Mr. Atanga noted that climate change has made the expansion, rehabilitation and efficient management of the irrigation schemes an urgent national priority, saying the board would work to ensure the facilities deliver greater value to farmers and the country.
According to him, the board’s work will be aligned with the government’s Feed Ghana Programme and the 24-Hour Economy Policy to expand irrigated agriculture, create jobs, raise household incomes and increase food production.
The Tono and Vea irrigation schemes are among Ghana’s largest public irrigation facilities and remain the backbone of dry-season farming in the Upper East Region, producing vegetables, cereals and other crops that supply markets across the country.
Government officials believe strengthening their management is essential to achieving long-term food security and agricultural transformation.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
