The project, which would officially commence in two weeks by Abooh1 Company, a Ghanaian Construction Company, would be completed in four months.

The eight dams would be constructed at Anafubiisi-Kpusareka, Ayupia, Sambolgo, Zorko-Kodorogo, Zorko-Awaa, Kuyellougo, Dua-yekine and Soe-Kabre communities in the district.

Funded by the Ministry of Special Development Initiative and the Northern Development Authority, the project, aims at ensuring that there was all year round agriculture activities in three regions, namely Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions.

Handing over the sites to the contractors at separate communities, Mr Peter Ayamga Ayinbisa, the Bongo District Chief Executive (DCE) disclosed that his outfit was the first District to receive the intervention and said the dams would help farmers in the district to undertake agriculture activities throughout the year.

He said the intervention was targeted at ensuring food security, reducing extreme poverty, particularly among rural folks through the production and cultivation of commercial food crops and the rearing of farm animals as well as curbing rural urban migration during the dry season.

The DCE, who said agriculture was the backbone of the country’s economy urged the youth to develop interest in farming and added that the project would also offer farmers the avenues to earn extra income to complement their routine earnings to improve their livelihoods.

Mr Ayinbisa, who disclosed that the district would get about 40 dams at the end of the four year tenure, urged the people to cooperate and support the contractors to accelerate the process while the Assembly effectively monitored progress of work to avoid shoddy works.

The people at various communities applauded the DCE for his selfless service, especially for being the first DCE to secure dams for his district and appealed to him to facilitate the securing of other development projects to the district.

Mr Daniel Atinga, the Assembly Member for the Dua-Yikene Electoral Area thanked the DCE and the government for selecting their communities to benefit from this flagship programme and added that it would improve agricultural activities in the area, especially during the lean season.

He admonished the contractors to fulfil their promise by completing the projects on time and asked his community members to make good use of the dam when completed to realise its purpose.

Mr Douglas Twum, Engineer of the construction firm pledged the company’s commitment to ensure that the work was executed to specification and quality.