The Regent of Ashaiman, Nii Annan Adjor II, has raised alarm over the increasing pollution of the Ashaiman irrigation dam reservoir by encroachers, warning that the situation poses a serious threat to public health and agricultural productivity.
Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme—an initiative by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)—Nii Adjor lamented that individuals had built close to the reservoir and were discharging waste water directly into it.
He questioned how Ashaiman could contribute to food security when the very dam intended for crop irrigation was being contaminated.
“This rubbish comes into the canal and mixes with the water that we use to irrigate our crops,” he stated.
Nii Adjor disclosed that he had written to the Ministry years ago to report the issue, but no action was taken, and the situation has since deteriorated. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, he had organised cleanup exercises to keep the dam area free of waste, but said those efforts had ceased.
“Since I stopped, the authorities too have stopped,” he noted.
He called on the management of the irrigation scheme to take responsibility and protect the water source, which remains a crucial livelihood resource for many residents. “Some communities are begging to have such an irrigation scheme, but we are taking ours for granted,” he said.
Nii Adjor urged the formation of a task force to protect the dam, particularly the heavily encroached right bank side. He also proposed the planting of trees along the banks and the installation of filtration systems to clean wastewater before it enters the reservoir.
“At its current state, the dam is even unfit for aquaculture,” he observed, recalling a time when the reservoir supported tilapia, mudfish, oysters, and other aquatic life—now lost to pollution.
The chief also cautioned farmers against allocating parts of their farmland for the construction of wooden structures, which are often rented out to third parties.
In a strong appeal, he called for greater recognition of traditional authorities in the management of the scheme. “In other regions where irrigation schemes are operated, the chiefs are involved. But in Ashaiman, the custodians of the land are being sidelined,” he said.
He expressed concern that despite being central to the land where the project operates, the Ashaiman Division does not even hold a portion of the scheme’s land—unlike other traditional areas that are directly engaged.
“The scheme is for all of us as Ghanaians. We, the custodians of this opportunity, should not have it taken away from us,” he emphasised.
The Ashaiman irrigation scheme, constructed several decades ago, supports hundreds of farmers who cultivate vegetables, maize, and rice. However, years of encroachment have hampered its effective operation, raising fears over its long-term viability.
GNA