ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF THE ONE VILLAGE ONE DAM INITIATIVE IN GHANA

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Dr. Joe Taabazuing |DIWA Researcher

August 27, 2025| Accra, Ghana

TEAM MEMBERS

Principal Investigator (PI):

Charles Amoatey

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Co-Principal Investigators

Joseph Taabazuing

Richard Otoo

Samuel Adams

Emmanuel Abokyi

Mentor

Prof. Chris Udry

What we will be discussing:

The extent to which the implementation of the 1V1D project achieves its intended objectives.

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The latent factors that enable or constrain the success of the 1V1D.

• The five northern regions are the poorest in Ghana (GLSS, 2017)
• The regions are largely affected by irregular rainfall patterns, shorter rain season and severe climate effect.
• A key policy thrust of Ghana government since 2017 has been to provide communities in Northern Ghana with access to irrigation infrastructure to enhance agricultural productivity and livelihoods.
• The aim is providing basic socio-economic infrastructure to support sustainable socio-economic development
• Implementation is in the five regions of Northern Ghana

MOTIVATION & BACKGROUND

MOTIVATION & BACKGROUND

Overall, 570 small dams were expected to be constructed to support:

About 530 Dams have been constructed so far.

Dry Season Farming

Livestock Rearing

Water for Domestic & Commercial Use

Enhance Food Security

Improve Incomes

Improve wellbeing

Policy Objectives:

Theory Of Change – 1V1D

• Rural households in the Northern Savannah Ecological Zone (NSEZ) of Ghana
• Specifically those in communities where the One Village One Dam (1V1D) initiative was implemented (treatment communities)
• and comparable communities without dams (control communities).

TARGET POPULATION

CAPTION OR PHOTO CREDIT: RIGHT HERE

A reconnaissance study informed the choice of design

The design is anchored on matching selected treatment communities with control communities.

Design is complemented with factual analysis using the ToC to assess design, implementation mechanisms and context related issues.

mostly communities that were selected or qualified but could not get the dams

Sampling

In-depth interviews with individuals, opinion leaders, contractors and managers of the dam

METHODOLOGY

Engagements with opinion leader – Sambu Dam, Mion

OVERVIEW OF RESULTS

 Source: DIWA, 2023

State of the Dams

• The embankment of some dams have been totally broken.
• Some embankment are not well fortified. Dams overflow during heavy rainfall
• Some outlets were improperly sited causing massive erosion and destroying major roads
• Some dams were sited on poor landscape.
• Some dams are abandoned. Communities have alternatives like boreholes.

Improper siting of spillway causing severe erosion and destroying major roads

Embankment of a dam in a community broken into two halves draining all water from the dam

State of the Dams

• Approximately 40% of the sampled dams were poorly constructed.
• Most of the sampled dams are shallow with inadequate water holding capacity.
• Majority of the dams dry up in the dry season when they are mostly needed.
• About 90% of the sampled dams have no outlets for irrigation farming.

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• (Experts interviewed described the dams as “dig and heap” facilities).

Results Cont’d: Sources of Water for Domestic Use

Results Cont’d: Sources of Water for Commercial Purpose

Results Cont’d: Average Livestock Owned, Sold and Consumed

1 matured cow = 1 animal unit (AU); 2 matured donkeys = 1 AU; 4 young donkeys = 1 AU;

10 matured sheeps/goat = 1 AU; 20 young sheeps/goats = 1 AU

Results Cont’d: Irrigation farming

Irrigation Farming

Results Cont’d: Income from Irrigation Farming

SOUND! AND! COLOR!

POLICY TAKEAWAYS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• A one-size-fits-all model limited impact: regional water needs differ (surface water vs. groundwater).
• Weak dam design, shallow construction, and poor maintenance undermined impact.
• Community ownership and management structures are critical for sustainability.
• Irrigation impact was limited; food security and income effects were marginal.
• Unintended impacts (Fulani herdsmen, destruction of roads and houses) exposed governance gaps.

Policy Takeaways & Recommendations

For the policy intention of using the dams for dry season farming to be fulfilled government should consider the following actions:

• Expand the water holding capacity of the dams
• Ensure valves are fixed on the dams to carry water to a dedicated place for irrigation farming
• Train farmers on water use for irrigation
• Enforce quality standards through GIDA & District Assemblies.

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Policy Takeaways & Recommendations

• Budgetary provision for the maintenance of these dams also has policy implication
• There may be need for policy that can clarify roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders like MMDAs, GIDA, NDA etc. regarding the management and maintenance of the dams
• Need to involve community members in a paid job to help with the maintenance of the dams (Safety Net approach)

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Policy Takeaways & Recommendations

• The world Bank has commissioned the Safety Net programme
• It involves the use of local community members to construct dams and roads
• The community members earn money whilst contributing to the implementation of the interventions
• Few dams observed during the dry season were in better shape compared to the 1V1D

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Safety Net Dams

Parallel Interventions

• The dam serves a number of purposes: irrigation, domestic, commercial and animal
• Even though not much improvement was realized within the study areas, some positive localized effects were realized.
• Most of the sampled dams are deteriorating. There is lack of ownership and poor management of the dams.
• Government could partner with the World Bank to rehabilitate broken and old dams using the Safety Net approach.

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CONCLUSION

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diwa.gimpa.edu.gh