Some 22 communities to risk severe flooding if Weta Dam is not repaired – Agbana

The Member of Parliament for Ketu North, Mr Eric Edem Agbana, has warned that more than 22 communities in the Ketu North Municipality could be severely flooded if urgent rehabilitation works are not carried out on the Weta Irrigation Dam.

The dam, which supports irrigation activities for over 1,200 rice farmers across the Awalavi, Afife, Klenormadi, and Weta enclaves, has suffered years of neglect, leading to worsening challenges that threaten livelihoods and food security in the area.

Mr Agbana, who visited the facility after receiving numerous distress calls from farmers, said more than 300 hectares of farmlands had already been lost to flooding over the past few years due to malfunctioning infrastructure.

According to him, many of the canals have become choked, preventing water from flowing out of the farms during rainfall and causing widespread flooding.

“Farmers continue to sacrifice year after year, hoping the situation will improve. But the truth is that this facility now faces serious challenges,” he said.

The MP explained that he had engaged the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Eric Opoku, his deputy, and other stakeholders regarding the state of the dam. However, support had been slow despite assurances that the government had plans for the facility.

Mr Agbana noted that a more alarming crisis had emerged and that the gates used to regulate the dam’s water outflow were malfunctioning.

“There were two gates. The first one broke down months ago and had to be removed from a crane. The second gate is also failing. If it gets completely damaged, we will have no control over the water,” he cautioned.

He added that the dam was holding an estimated 31 million cubic metres of water, and without a functioning control system, downstream communities face a high risk of catastrophic flooding.

“Over 22 communities along the irrigation stretch are living in fear. If the second gate fails, the outflow will be uncontrollable,” he stressed.

Mr. Agbana said several sections of farmland, including Sections 5, 10, and 11, have already been destroyed, while Section 12 is under threat.

“If we are serious about making agriculture the engine of our national growth, then facilities like this must be prioritised,” he said, urging swift government action.

He expressed confidence that President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Agriculture would not overlook the plight of farmers and would act promptly to ensure rehabilitation works begin.

“We are using your platform to appeal to government and all relevant agencies to expedite action on rehabilitating this dam. The livelihoods of thousands of farmers and the safety of 22 communities depend on it,” he added.

Mr Agbana also expressed hope that the World Bank–supported rehabilitation programme linked to the dam would be fast-tracked to restore the facility to full capacity.

He reaffirmed his commitment to continue advocacy until the urgent concerns of farmers in Ketu North are addressed.

Some of the farmers and downstream community members who spoke to the GNA echoed the MP’s call for urgent intervention, stressing that the rehabilitation of the dam cannot be delayed.

With only a few months left before the next major rainy season, many expressed fear that their livelihoods could be wiped out if the facility is not fixed promptly.

Source: GNA

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