The Weija Water Users Association has appealed to the government to urgently intervene in what it describes as growing encroachment on state-acquired irrigation lands belonging to the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) at Tuba, warning that the situation could escalate into conflict if not addressed immediately.
At a press conference in Weija, the Association petitioned the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, the Minister for Food and Agriculture, the Lands Commission, and GIDA to take decisive steps to remove individuals and groups allegedly occupying portions of the irrigation lands unlawfully.
The Association stressed that swift action is needed to safeguard the area from potential disturbances and to protect the integrity of the irrigation scheme, which remains critical to Ghana’s food production agenda.
The Weija Dam and Irrigation Project were initiated by the Government of Ghana between 1974 and 1978, with approximately 13,580 acres of land compulsorily acquired for the dam and its buffer zone.
In 1983, GIDA officially established the Weija Irrigation Farm Scheme for crop cultivation. Over 8,000 acres were earmarked for agricultural production, with lands acquired from traditional landowners in Kokrobite, Plerno, Amanfro, and Bortianor.
However, the Association noted that the project’s full potential has been undermined over the years by persistent encroachment. In 2010, government carried out a demolition exercise affecting more than 400 houses in an effort to reclaim parts of the irrigation lands.
Legal Counsel for the Association, Mr. Paul Kumi, expressed concern that continued encroachment poses a major threat to national food security initiatives, particularly the government’s Feed Ghana Project, where irrigation farming is expected to play a central role.
According to him, the Weija enclave alone could have generated significant employment opportunities, potentially engaging over 150,000 farmhands, while contributing to economic transformation, poverty reduction, and lower unemployment levels.
Mr. Kumi disclosed that the Association is particularly alarmed by what it claims is the allocation of a portion of the irrigation land to a private company, A.K.O Obotantim Properties Limited.
He alleged that the company was issued a land certificate dated March 20, 2019, covering about 61 acres located within the core serviced area of the irrigation project, where critical infrastructure such as sprinklers and pipelines are installed.
He stated that while government instruments reportedly designate the area strictly for irrigation purposes, the same land has allegedly been plotted and certified under private ownership.
“This is the development that has deeply angered the Association, and we are calling for immediate government intervention before the unexpected happens,” he warned.
The Association maintained that if irrigation farming is to remain central to Ghana’s food production and job creation agenda, then GIDA must be adequately resourced and empowered to prevent further encroachment.
They further alleged that other companies and individuals may also be engaged in similar activities, sometimes with the support of influential persons, and urged stakeholders to act swiftly to avert tension and ensure sustained agricultural productivity in the enclave.
The press conference was attended by farmers, as well as GIDA officials including the Authority’s Public Relations Officer, Madam Yvonne Mamle Addison, and the Scheme Manageress, Madam Alice Wakah.
The Weija Water Users Association concluded by calling for immediate enforcement measures to protect the irrigation lands and secure the future of food production in the area.
