The new government under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has pledged to revisit key projects initiated by the previous administration, with a particular focus on the "One Village, One Dam" (1v1d) initiative, which faced significant challenges during its implementation.

In a recent meeting, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri, responded to a presentation by the Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA), which had conducted a thorough monitoring and evaluation of the 1V1D programme.

The findings from this report raised serious concerns about the effectiveness of the dams constructed under the initiative, particularly in light of feedback from local communities.

The 1v1d initiative was launched with the ambitious goal of boosting food security and alleviating poverty in Northern Ghana, where many residents depend heavily on rain-fed agriculture.

Small-scale irrigation systems were supposed to allow farmers to engage in year-round farming, but the implementation of these projects has faced serious setbacks.

According to NORPRA's evaluation, the dams were poorly constructed and have largely failed to meet their intended purposes.

In a visit to various project sites, including Zanlerigu in the Nabdam District, Kunkua in the Bolgatanga East District, and Ayopia in the Bongo District—areas where former President Nana Akufo-Addo first inaugurated the initiative—community members expressed their frustrations.

By March of this year, many of the dams had dried up, rendering them “completely useless” for the very purpose they were meant to serve.

Since 2024, NORPRA has extended its monitoring efforts to cover the majority of the over 500 1V1D projects that were rolled out across Northern Ghana. Their findings indicate that, in many cases, the dams have not only been poorly constructed but have also fallen into a state of disrepair.

These findings were presented to the NDC government in the hope that the current administration would take action and revisit the project with a view to addressing its shortcomings.

Bismark Ayorogo, Executive Director of NORPRA, expressed hope that the new government would take the necessary steps to improve the situation and make the dams viable for dry-season irrigation.

Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri, assured the public that the NDC government would carefully reassess the 1V1D initiative.

He stressed that the administration was committed to reviewing key projects launched by the previous government, including the 1v1d programme, and ensuring that they are properly implemented to benefit the communities they were designed to serve.