The Member of Parliament for Ketu North Edem Agbana, has led a delegation of chiefs, rice farmers and concerned youth from Weta to present a formal petition to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture over the deteriorating state of the Weta Irrigation Scheme.
The petition, which demands urgent government intervention to rehabilitate the once-thriving agricultural facility, was received on behalf of the sector Minister by Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo.
Hon. Dumelo assured the delegation of government’s commitment to rehabilitating the scheme and supporting farmers to restore productivity.
According to the petitioners, the scheme, which is a critical asset for rice production in the Volta Region, has been left in a deplorable state after years of neglect and challenges, leading to severe damage to farmlands.
The farmers are demanding three key actions:
1. Urgent rehabilitation of the facility to reclaim farmlands
2. Appropriate compensation for over 1,200 affected families to help recover their livelihoods
3. A thorough investigation into the utilisation of World Bank funds released for the redevelopment of the facility
Speaking after the presentation, the Ketu North MP stressed that the situation demands urgent and decisive intervention.
“The Weta Irrigation Scheme is a critical agricultural asset with enormous potential to support rice production, create jobs and strengthen Ghana’s food security. Its continued deterioration has come at a significant cost to our farmers and their families. We cannot afford further delays in addressing this challenge,” he stated.
He further assured the delegation that he will continue to engage relevant authorities until concrete action is taken.
“I have assured the delegation that I will continue to engage the relevant authorities and push for concrete, measurable action. The concerns raised must translate into a clear rehabilitation plan, accountability for funds committed to the project, and a credible pathway towards restoring the livelihoods of affected farmers,” he said.
“My commitment is to ensure that the concerns of our people remain firmly on the national agenda until meaningful progress is achieved.”
