Accra: The Community Action Plans (CAPs) intervention by ActionAid Ghana (AAG) in the Upper West and parts of the Savannah Regions is poised to enhance irrigation farming and promote a green economy, specifically during the dry season. The initiative is designed to assist vulnerable groups within the target communities, including women and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), in improving their economic well-being and nutrition.
According to Ghana News Agency, the dams, part of the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project, aim to provide essential water resources for farming and livestock. This initiative is expected to positively impact thousands of direct and indirect beneficiaries along the green economy value chain. During a working visit to an irrigation dam construction site at Buka in the Wa West District, Mr. John Nkaw, the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, expressed optimism about the project's long-term benefits for the beneficiaries. He praised the contractor for the progress made and expressed confidence in the delivery of a high-quality facility that would endure over time.
Mr. Nkaw emphasized the importance of building community resilience through the dam and urged the contractor to prioritize environmental protection and adhere to technical standards. He noted that the project aims to benefit at least 70 percent women and PWDs among the total number of beneficiaries. Madam Abiba Nibaradun, the Upper West Regional Manager of ActionAid Ghana, highlighted the facility's potential to increase household income and improve nutrition, particularly for women and vulnerable households.
Mr. Ahmed Hamidu, the Site Manager for Bricks and Mint Construction Company Limited, the contractor for the Buka dam, explained that the structure would be approximately 3.7 meters deep, 400 meters long, and 20 meters wide at the embankment to ensure durability. He noted that labor was sourced from the Buka community, providing short-term economic opportunities during construction, and commended the community for its support and dedication.
The AAG team also visited other notable sites, such as the Duori dam in the Jirapa Municipality, where an irrigation system and a fenced farming field are being constructed to benefit about 700 people, 70 percent of whom will be women. Additional projects included hand-pump boreholes, mechanized water systems, conservation agriculture demonstration sites, and agroforestry projects across the municipalities of Lawra, Wa West, Wa, and Jirapa.
The CAPs intervention is funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) through the REACH project under the European Union Ghana Agricultural Programme (EUGAP), co-funded by the European Union and the German Government. This initiative addresses priority needs identified by the communities in their respective CAPs under the REACH project and aligns with AAG's Country Strategic Paper VII. It particularly supports Strategic Priorities One, which focuses on promoting Green Economy and Resilient Livelihoods, and Strategic Priorities Two on Women's Rights and Decent Work. The initiative also contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Goal 1 on No Poverty; Goal 2, Zero Hunger; Goal 5, Gender Equality; and Goal 13 on Climate Action.
