The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has disclosed that all is set for the commencement of the one-village one-dam campaign pledge of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Construction works can now go ahead as the rainy season is over, according to Dr Bawumia.
President Akufo-Addo during the 2016 electioneering promised to establish a dam in villages in the three northern regions of the country to boost agriculture via a well-planned irrigation policy.
Addressing traditional rulers in Bolgatanga in the Upper East region on Sunday, August 28, 2016, he said a robust irrigation policy “one-village-one dam” will make Ghana crop all year round and eventually become a net exporter of most foodstuff.
The government in its 2017 budget earmarked GHs94.5 million for the implementation of the project.
Opening the regional ministers’ conference in Kumasi on Friday, December 15, 2017, Dr. Bawumia stated the government intends to fulfil its One Village One Dam programme as it will be critical to the development of agriculture in the country.
According to him, the country’s agricultural sector is key to national development, noting that “it is an engine of growth to move our economy beyond aid.”
“It is therefore fundamental to boost agricultural productivity to achieve sustainable industrial and agribusiness development as a means of wealth and job creation.
“Consequently, our Government has placed renewed emphasis on the agriculture sector, pumping in much resource into the sector to facilitate rapid integration to global and regional value chains,” he said.
He further noted the Akufo-Addo administration has “worked arduously to lay the foundation for rapid development of our dear country” by rolling out programmes such as the Digital Property Address system which is aimed at formalising the economy. He reiterated next year land title registration will also go digital in addition to the Ghana Card – National ID card – which will also be rolled out soon.
“Since independence there have been tremendous efforts by successive governments towards the development of the nation. Ghana is currently classified as a middle income country based on certain economic indicators, such as the Country’s per capita income, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross National Income (GNI) among others.
“However, all these indicators of economic growth will continue to remain meaningless to our people for as long as they do not reflect in the livelihood of our people who lack basic social infrastructure. The lack of basic infrastructure at the local communities is of significant concern,” the vice president said.
He added: “It is against this backdrop that, Government, under the leadership of H. E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has worked arduously to lay the foundation for rapid development of our dear country. It is the vision of the Akufo-Addo’s government to develop Ghana beyond aid by galvanizing stakeholders, including Regional Ministers, MMDCE’s, coordinating councils among others, to build the required infrastructure that are prerequisites for sustained economic growth and poverty reduction.”
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