News
Dandafuri residents cry for Irrigation systems, credit facilities
Residents of Dandafuri community in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region have appealed to government and benevolent organisations to provide an irrigation system for the community to support them during the dry season farming.
They have also asked for credit facilities to enable them pay for tractor services and buy farm inputs to boost their agricultural activities.
Speaking to The Spectator during a visit to the community, the Chief of Dandafuri, Abdul Salam Issahaku said since agriculture was the mainstay of residents in the community, the provision of facilities such as irrigation system and credit facilities would help boost their vocation and ensure that farmers gained from their labour.
Dandafuri is located about 10 kilometres away from the central business district of Wa, the regional capital and has about 2,400 residents who are mainly farmers but engage in trading activities after harvesting their farm produce.
“There are no industries or factories in the community. We are living in dire poverty but we do well with agriculture so the presence of such resource will boost our activities and ensure that we produce enough to feed our families and also sell,” he expressed.
He said due to the limited resources, hiring tractors to plough a large tract of land becomes a challenge, making it difficult to cultivate enough.
A community member, Madam Alimata Fulera said that many women in the community migrated to the southern part of the country to work during the dry season because there was no alternative source of livelihood.
Dandafuri like several other communities in the northern part of the country experiences prolonged dry season which sometimes begin in mid-October and runs to early May.
Fulera explained that if there was an irrigation system in the community, they could continue with dry season farming.
Mr Sumaila Iddris, the Unit Committee Chairman of the area insisted that an irrigation system and financial support would help the youth in the community to engage in commercial and dry season farming for a higher return.
The Regional Director of Agriculture, Mr Francis Sasu Yeboah shared in their concern and advised them to create farmer based groups to petition the assembly to consider them for such interventions.
From Lydia Darlington, Wa
News
Media reports claiming Cecilia Dapaah is cleared by FBI are false – OSP
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has dismissed media reports suggesting that former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, has been cleared of corruption by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
In a statement, the OSP said its attention had been drawn to several misleading publications which claimed that the FBI “found no evidence of corruption” or that Mrs. Dapaah “had been cleared.”
The office stressed that these reports were false and a misrepresentation of its Half-Yearly Report.
According to the OSP, the report stated that no direct and immediate evidence of corruption had been found, a legal standard that is different from saying there was “no evidence” or that the former minister had been cleared.
The OSP explained that the case was earlier referred to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after investigations revealed strong signs of suspected money laundering and structuring, which fall under EOCO’s mandate.
However, the previous leadership of EOCO failed to act and returned the docket.
The new leadership has since requested and received the docket again.
The OSP urged the media to report with accuracy and remain faithful to official documents, stressing that responsible communication is necessary on matters of high national interest.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Government Pays GH¢9.7 Billion Coupon Under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP)
The Government of Ghana has paid GH¢9.7 billion as part of its debt obligations under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).
The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson said the payment amounted to GH¢9,698,815,220.17.
This brings the total payments made under the programme this year alone to GH¢19.4 billion.
According to the minister in a facebook post, the payment shows government’s commitment to honouring agreements made under the DDEP and is expected to boost investor confidence in the economy.
He stated that government has also created two sinking fund accounts one in cedis and another in US dollars to help manage future debt payments.
These funds, introduced he said is in line with the 2025 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review and backed by the Public Financial Management Act, meant to ensure that upcoming loan obligations due between 2026 and 2028 are paid on time.
The Finance Minister assured investors and the public that all future debt commitments, including those under the DDEP, will be fully honoured without delays.
By: Jacob Aggrey
