ICOUR Board tasked to make irrigation facilities resilient, leave lasting legacies

By Anthony Adongo Apubeo, GNA 

Bolgatanga, July 14, GNA – The newly inaugurated Board of Directors of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR) has been tasked to provide strategic leadership to make the company’s irrigation facilities resilient and leave lasting legacies for future generations. 

Mr Ibrahim Tia, the North East Regional Minister, who inaugurated the Board on behalf Mr Eric Opoku, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, in Bolgatanga on Tuesday, charged the board members to improve the facilities to withstand the effects of climate change and position irrigation as a catalyst for agricultural transformation, food security and economic growth. 

He said the board had been appointed at a critical time when government was intensifying efforts to transform agriculture and achieve food security and stressed the need for the members to work to improve the sustainability and efficiency of the Tono and Vea irrigation schemes, which were under the management of ICOUR. 

“ICOUR is one of the strategic agricultural investments in Ghana, and we are blessed to have such a facility in the northern part of this country. We must make very good use of it and leave lasting legacies for our people and future generations,” he said. 

Mr Tia said although there were challenges confronting the irrigation schemes, the appointment of the board members was a demonstration of confidence in their ability to provide solutions and ensure the facilities served their intended purpose. 

“Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) is highly expected here to make this dam more resilient. We know the challenges we are facing with regards to climate change. Let us look at ways to make the dam work and save humanity,” he added. 

The North East Regional Minister also urged the board and management of ICOUR to revive commercial tomato production under the irrigation schemes, noting that Ghana had the capacity to reduce its dependence on imported tomatoes. 

“We can do it. We are doing it. Let us revisit it,” he said, adding that increased tomato production could help retain foreign exchange and create more opportunities for farmers. 

The nine-member ICOUR Board, chaired by Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, the Upper East Regional Minister, comprised Mr Adam Jibril, an Accountant at ICOUR, who serves as Secretary, Dr Dominic Atogumsekiya Anarigide, the Managing Director of ICOUR; Mr Gasper Dondaa, Upper East Regional Manager of GIDA, and Mr Eric Adu-Dankwa, Chief Executive Officer of GIDA. 

The rest are Mr Gaddiel Idun Quansah, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Finance; Alhaji Zakari Fuseini, Upper East Regional Director of Agriculture; Mr Justice Ayine Atonbisko, Farmers’ Representative of the Vea Farmers Association; and Mr Robert Kwame Abokah, Farmers’ Representative of the Tono Farmers Association. 

In his acceptance remarks, Mr Atanga pledged the commitment of the board to strengthen corporate governance, improve operational efficiency and position ICOUR as a centre of excellence in irrigation development. 

He said irrigation was not only an agricultural intervention but also a strategic national asset that supported food security, climate resilience, employment creation and rural development. 

“Together with my fellow board members, management and staff, we shall work diligently to strengthen the institutional capacity of ICOUR, improve operational efficiency, enhance irrigation infrastructure, promote sustainable water resource management and create an enabling environment for increased private sector participation in irrigated agriculture,” he said. 

Dr Anarigide, the Managing Director of ICOUR, said the company had begun measures to revive tomato production at the irrigation schemes, adding that 500 hectares of land had been earmarked at Tono and Vea irrigation schemes to tomato cultivation this year. 

He said the new approach would also involve linking farmers to off-takers (buyers) before production to address previous challenges where farmers produced without guaranteed markets. 

He said farmers would be provided with technical guidance and ensure that produce met required standards for processing and marketing. 

Dr Anarigide said the company was also working to identify suitable tomato varieties, including learning from Burkina Faso’s production model, to improve yields and competitiveness. 

He expressed optimism that with support from stakeholders, ICOUR could reclaim its position as a leading hub for tomato production and contribute significantly to Ghana’s food security agenda. 

GNA 

Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah 

Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo 

Email: [email protected]