A nine-member Board of Directors of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region (ICOUR), has been sworn into office with a call on the members to provide strategic leadership to improve governance, accountability and operational efficiency to drive agricultural transformation and food security.
The Board, chaired by the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, is expected to oversee the management of the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes, two of the country’s largest irrigation facilities that support thousands of farmers in the Upper East Region.
Other members of the Board are Dr Dominic Atogumsekiya Anarigide, Managing Director of ICOUR; Eric Adu-Damkwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA); Gasper Dondaa, Upper East Regional Manager of GIDA; and Gaddiel Idum Quansah, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Finance.
The rest are Alhaji Zakari Fuseini, Upper East Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture; Justice Ayine Atonbisko, representative of the Vea Farmers Association; Mr Robert Kwame Abokah, representative of the Tono Farmers Association; while Mr Adam Jibril, an Accountant at ICOUR, serves as Secretary to the Board.
Strengthening irrigation governance
Inaugurating the Board in Bolgatanga on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, the North East Regional Minister, Ibrahim Tia, described ICOUR as one of Ghana's most strategic agricultural investments and stressed the need to maximise its potential to ensure year-round food production.
He said irrigation remained the surest means of reducing dependence on rainfall, increasing agricultural productivity and creating sustainable livelihoods, particularly at a time when climate change continued to threaten rain-fed agriculture.
“The inauguration of this Board marks another important step towards strengthening governance, accountability and operational efficiency within ICOUR,” he said.
Mr Tia noted that the Board was expected to provide strategic guidance, promote transparency, protect the assets of the company and work closely with management and stakeholders to maximise the potential of the country's irrigation infrastructure.
Reviving tomato production
The Regional Minister also encouraged the Board to revisit large-scale tomato production under the irrigation schemes to reduce Ghana's dependence on imported tomatoes and support agro-processing industries.
He cited the stalled watermelon processing factory at Walewale and stressed the importance of increasing irrigation farming to supply raw materials for agro-industries while creating employment opportunities.
Board’s commitment
Accepting the appointment on behalf of the Board, the Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, expressed gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Food and Agriculture for the confidence reposed in him.
He described irrigation as a strategic national asset that supported food security, climate resilience, employment creation and rural development, especially in the Upper East Region where agriculture remained the main source of livelihood.
He added that the Board's work would align with the government's Feed Ghana Programme, the 24-Hour Economy Policy and other agricultural transformation initiatives aimed at increasing productivity, creating jobs and improving farmers' incomes.
Market-led production model
Dr Dominic Anarigide, Managing Director of ICOUR, described the inauguration as a significant milestone for the company and announced plans to revive commercial tomato production under the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes.
He said ICOUR had earmarked 500 hectares for tomato cultivation this year using organic fertiliser and a market-led production model that linked farmers directly to off-takers before production began.
