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
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, has revealed that in the whole of 2024, only GHS 362 million was released to MMDAs in Common Fund.
Contrary to this, In 2025 alone GHS 5 billion was released to the MMDAs with the following breakdown as follows.
The Minister made this revelation when he took his turn at the Government Accountability Series held today.
In breakdown, the minister nonted that 1st Quarter – 790,372,058.40 was released for 2025.
He added that for the 2nd Quarter, 1,464,983,309.60 was released.
3rd Quarter saw the release of 1,188,921,640.80 and
1,592,706,391.20 for 4th Quarter.
The Minister added tha each of the MMDAs were required to undertake the following; at least 2-CHPS compounds, 3 Classroom blocks, 10 Boreholes, and Completion of legacy projects.
Additionally, 25% of the Common Fund was allocated for the Construction of 24-Hour Economy Model Markets.
Ahmed Ibrahim noted that as a result of the timely and unprecedented release of Funds, a total of 494 CHPS compounds, 761 Classroom Blocks, 4,029 Boreholes, and 2,755 Legacy projects are currently at various stages of completion.
Also, he added that 261 24-Hour Economy Model Markets have all been awarded on contracts and construction has begun on many of them.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, together with members of the Police Management Board (POMAB), on April 17, 2026, decorated nineteen (19) senior officers who have been promoted to their next ranks based on the recommendations of the Police Council and approval of the President, John Dramani Mahama.
The ceremony, held at the National Police Headquarters in Accra, forms part of efforts to recognise merit, dedication, and long-standing service within the Ghana Police Service, while strengthening leadership across key operational and administrative levels.
The officers promoted from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) to Commissioner of Police (COP) are Dr. Luke Asue-In-Yeng Zakpaa, Mr. Frederick Agyei, Mr. Duuti Tuaruka, Mr. Arthur Osei-Akoto, Mr. Darko Offei Lomotey, Mr. Eric Ken Winful, Mr. Barnabas Nambont Nasumong, and Mr. Desmond Owusu Boampong.
The IGP and members of POMAB congratulated the officers and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in the discharge of their duties.
