News
Disa Community receives solar-powered irrigation system
The Market Oriented Agricultural Programme (MOAP NW) under the European Union Ghana Agricultural Programme (EU- GAP) has handed over a solar-powered irrigation system to the Disa community in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region.
The facility is expected to support the cultivation of vegetables throughout the year to enhance the livelihood of some forty vegetable farmers, comprising three males and 37 females.
Supervised by the Johnny Royals Construction Engineering, the facility which was equipped with taps at vantage points in the gardens would also ensure that many more women joined the cultivation to generate income and also enhance the nutritional value of their meals at home.
Addressing participants at a short ceremony at Disa to hand over the project on Friday, the Team Lead of the Agriculture Finance Consultant of MOAP NW, Dr Andrew Herbard said the development of the solar-automated groundwater micro irrigation scheme was proposed four years ago but construction began in November, last year.
“Rural women in agriculture remain challenged in areas of ownership and access to productive arable land as well as relevant information for their agricultural enterprises; there is therefore the need to channel resources and infrastructure to women engaged in the sector to improve productivity and an important feature of the MOAP-NW programme is its focus on women farmers,” he said.
He explained that the EU/GIZ Co-financed MOAP NW programme was designed to support the improvement of agricultural infrastructure and promote productive investments in North West Ghana, through strong community involvement, capacity building of stakeholders along selected value chains, extension training of service delivery systems for farmers and employment through agribusiness and sustainable utilisation of renewable natural resources.
“We are happy to contribute to the Government of Ghana’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector; in an era of climatic vulnerability, as evidenced by increasingly erratic rainfall patterns which require climate-smart agricultural solutions,”he expressed.
Dr Harberd said the facility would ensure a consistent water supply for all-year-round vegetable production, adding that the project aimed to increase the productivity of women vegetable gardeners by enhancing their livelihoods and generating economic opportunities.
To support climate-smart and sustainable agriculture, he stated that MOAP NW had supported a group of women in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region to produce Neem oil for spraying crops which was not harmful to either the crops or human consumers.
The Savannah Regional Director of Agriculture, Alhaji Seidu Sulemana who lauded NW for the intervention, said the irrigation scheme was one of the many benefits the community had enjoyed under the EU-GAP Project.
A beneficiary, Madam Mary Maana who was an okro farmer said even before the project was officially handed over, water from the scheme had kept her farm growing and said she had aleady harvested and sold some okro at the market, earning GH₵ 250.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, DISA
The Ghana Tourism Development Company, GTDC, under the leadership of Prof.Kobby Mensah has launched GTDC Campus Tourism Office at the University of Ghana.
The initiative aims to promote educational and domestic tourism by providing structured campus tour experiences showcasing key heritage sites, including the Archaeology Museum and the School of Performing Arts.
It will also offer students their first travel experience across the continent and inculcate in them love to visit Ghana’s heritage sites.
Addressing the gathering at the launch yesterday, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, described tourism as a vehicle for education and heritage preservation, stressing that the sector must inspire citizens to value and protect national culture for future generations.
The minister highlighted tourism’s connection to disciplines such as history, the arts, economics and environmental science.
The minister further noted that the private sector is the engine of tourism economy, adding that the engines require fuel, which is talents.” by investing in these young people today, you are securing the quality, the innovation and competitiveness of our own industry for tomorrow.
She added that the establishment of the office represents a deliberate investment in the intellectual capital of the country.
The GTDC boss, Prof.Kobby Mensah, said,”at GTDC, we believe that if our tourism has to be sustainable, we have to promote domestic tourism and a very big part of it is getting students to appreciate tourism and helping them to organise tours.”
He added that the University of Ghana itself is a huge heritage site which must be explored.
Prof.Kobby Mensah noted that the initiative, which is one of many to be established across the country, is a joint partnership between GTDC and University of Ghana.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof.Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, said the University is a custodian of heritage which goes beyond the structures and welcomed the establishment of the first Campus Tourism Office.
She was optimistic that the office would be put to good use to achieve the intended purpose.
The launch brought together Stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to nurturing future tourism and hospitality professionals.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana has officially accepted an invitation to serve as Guest Country at Burkina Faso’s 22nd National Culture Week in Bobo-Dioulasso from April 22 to May 2, 2026.
The invitation was extended by Burkina Faso’s Minister of Communication, Culture, Arts and Tourism, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo, accompanied by the Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana, H.E. David Kabré.
Receiving the delegation, Abla Dzifa Gomashie reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to deepening cultural diplomacy and strengthening historic ties between the two nations.
She noted that the festival will create opportunities for young creatives, expand exhibition platforms and promote commercial exchange within the creative sector.
The event will feature cultural performances, a community village and gastronomy fair, an arts market, literary engagements, and a craft and trade fair.
Ghana’s participation is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations between John Dramani Mahama and Ibrahim Traoré, while fostering collaboration within the creative ecosystems of both countries.
