The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) has raised concerns over alleged financial losses totaling GH₵57 million, with GH₵47 million attributed to the failed One Village, One Dam policy. The group also claims GH₵10 million was lost to procurement irregularities in the implementation of the Free SHS programme in Northern Ghana.
NORPRA’s recent inspection of the One Village, One Dam initiative across the five regions of Northern Ghana revealed a dismal outcome, with none of the over 400 dams capable of holding water for dry-season farming. The group’s Executive Director is now calling for a full accountability probe into the project’s implementation.
“We as an organisation, we have been doing a number of things including monitoring and tracking and assessing government pro-poor policies. We want to inform you that in 2023-2024 we engaged in an assessment and tracking and monitoring of the previous administration’s policy of one village, one dam policy. We have seen that the millions of Ghana cities sank into construction of these dams was nothing but a total drain on the public purse of this country,” Mr. Ayorogo Adongo lamented.
Mr Adongo also raised concerns about alleged corruption within the Free SHS programme in Northern Ghana, urging a thorough investigation and accountability for those found culpable.
“We want to urge government to, in the name of transparency and accountability, call all actors or people who are responsible in implementing these policies to account to the good people of this country what they did with the taxpayers’ money. That today, you go around all the five regions in northern Ghana, and you cannot see any water in these dams that we have spent so much money into digging. All of them are dry,” he added.
In response, while encouraging other religious and civic groups to be part of the NDC government’s resetting agenda, Mr Akamugri acknowledged NORPRA’s concerns and assured them of the government’s commitment to transparency and development in Northern Ghana.
“All the pro-poor policies that we are bringing on board, we will follow religiously the policy regimes and make sure that whatever is due the citizenry gets to them. All resources must be channeled through to the appropriate quarters. When it comes to procurement, the laws must be applied properly. So I take it as an advice that you’ve given to us,” Mr. Akamugri stated.
During the engagement, NORPRA also briefed the Regional Minister on its initiative to support 600 women in setting up an agro-processing centre in Bolgatanga, aimed at producing high-quality products for both local and international markets.
Source: GBC