A taskforce headed by the West Gonja Municipal Police Commander, DSP Johnson Hessey, will on April 20 evict some 50 vegetable and rice growers from the banks of Damongo Agric Dam.

The exercise which will be the second of its kind is to pave way for the desilting of the dam.

It is among four other dams, such as Sori Number 1, Canteen, NTC and Fire Service that have dried up in the Municipality due to excessive accumulations of mud and grass in them.

According to the Savannah Regional Minister, Saeed Muhazu Jibril who doubles as the acting MCE for West Gonja, he reiterated the assembly's readiness to ensure that no farmer returns to cultivate around the dam after eviction.

"These Farmers are just being recalcitrants. We went there with the Police Taskforce and destroyed most of their crops that they are doing there but because the water is not there, they have not seen the activities of the water that's why they are still there.

"Once we go for the desilting, obviously, their crops will be destroyed and we are not going to entertain them again because we have asked them to leave and they have refused," he indicated.

Mr Saeed Muhazu Jibril further said,  " the desilting is to make sure that we extend the life spine of the dam and for enough water to get in so that it will not dry up comes the next season because there is so much mud that has collected inside the dam.

"And also, you will realize that when you go there, a lot of weeds that are hindering the free flow of water into the dam and its catchment area, we are going to make sure that the contractor opens them up so that water can flow down the stream," he stated.

Joy News also spoke with a vegetable grower and a herdsman for their views on the impending eviction and desilting.

"Well, we can't talk much because last year, they came with Police and we ran and returned to work because I must feed my family.

"We are about 50 farmers here and me, if they come, I will go and come back again if not my children school and the family will suffer. So the desilting is good because we will get more water but if they sack us, what will they use the water for; and how do we survive?" Abuba Issahaka quizzed.

Another herdsman, Sulemana Saalu said he has been in the region for about 15 years with his livestock and believe the idea to visit the dam is laudable.

"It will be good for our cattle because there will be plenty of water here. But now, see, no water here and the other three dams in Damongo.

"So if they can also do that to the other Dams in Damongo, it will support this one if not, everybody will come here and the water will finish again," he said.

Also sharing their ordeals, Madam Boyella Botah and her neighbour, Cordilia Mwinpuo are both residents of Yipala, a suburb of Damongo indicated that the current state of the agric dam has worsened the availability of water.