MESTI Minister cuts sod for rehabilitation of Kakiase Dam

Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), has cut the sod for the rehabilitation of a dam at Kakiase in the Bole District of Savannah Region.

The dam formed part of the Adaptation Fund Project funded by the United Nations Development programme (UNDP) and implemented by MESTI, Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The project seeks to build the capacity of people in northern Ghana through the promotion of irrigation farming, bee keeping, shea butter and groundnut processing as well as tree planting amongst others.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Kakiase, Professor Boateng said the development of Gonjaland and the entire northern Ghana was “dearest to the heart” of President Nana Akufo-Addo, hence the need for the project to empower the livelihood of citizens in the area.

He said the dam would promote all year round farming, support beekeeping, as well as the tree planting exercise to build the capacities of people of Kasiase community.

He cautioned the people not to pursue nomadic Fulani herdsmen in Kasiase and its environs as criminals but endeavour to make peace and live in harmony with them.

“They live with you in the community and they came through your community leaders why don’t you dialogue with their leadership for amicable solution to your problems?” he said.

He also advised women to take advantage of the project to venture into dry season gardening to improve their living standards.

Professor Boateng also inspected a mechanised borehole project each at Chache and Kakiase; a shea butter and groundnut processing plant at Chache; as well as a tree planting project site at Chache, around the Black Volta; as part of his visit to the newly created Savannah Region.

He advised residents to preserve the vegetation cover by preventing the indiscriminate cutting of trees and bushfires.

Naa Amadu Mumuni, chief of the Kokiase, said the community has planned to set up a watchdog committee to guard against the destruction of crops by Fulani nomadic herdsmen, bushfires and indiscriminate cutting of trees.

He appealed to government to support the community with fishing nets, water pumping machines and other irrigation materials for dry season farming.

Madam Alele Veronica Herming, the Bole District Chief Executive (DCE), pledged to ensure the strict supervision of the adaptation projects in the district for speedy development.

She pledged to facilitate a process that would unite indigenes of Kakiase with nomadic Fulani herdsmen and ensure that all have access to water from the dam without any hindrance.

source: GNA