A chunk of GIDA’s $40K irrigation cost will be swallowed by bureaucrats — SARI Professor

A Research Scientist at the Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) Professor Roger Kanton has expressed surprise at the US $40,000 estimate by the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) for developing an irrigation project on one hectare of farmland.

Professor Kanton criticized the $40,000 cost as “unreasonably high”, suggesting that a large part is payment for secondary matters.

GIDA’s Acting CEO, Richard Oppong-Boateng, previously explained that the $40,000 cost is essential for exploring and developing irrigation schemes to address the drought problem affecting northern Ghana.

However, Professor Kanton argued that the amount is excessive, particularly given the presence of local water bodies and traditional irrigation systems that could be utilized.

He suggested that a large portion of the funds might be diverted to consultancy services and bureaucratic expenses instead of direct expenditure on developing the irrigation scheme.

Professor Kanton emphasized the need for a more cost-effective approach, advocating for local expertise and resources to tackle the urgent issue drought issue in the region.

“The source of water bodies exists so you are not going to start from scratch. So, that amount that he [GIDA] gave you is unreasonably rather on the higher side. If you use our own local, proper and indigenous systems, we would have without putting so much money into consultancy.

“If he breaks down that $40, 000 per hectare dam, you will see that a lot of them go back to bureaucrats like them. They will put consultancy services and others,” he said in an interview with Citi FM on August 21.