Contractor Urges Government to Settle Arrears as 90% Complete Ekyeamamfrom-Pivot Irrigation Project Stalls

The Ekyeamamfrom-Pivot Irrigation Project in the Afram Plains, currently standing at 90% completion, has hit a critical standstill due to mounting unpaid government certificates. The project contractor has issued an urgent appeal to the government to settle three outstanding payment certificates that have remained unpaid for nearly a year. Without these funds, the final phase of the infrastructure, which is vital for the region's agricultural output, remains in limbo despite the significant progress made to date.

During a recent inspection by Parliament’s Committee on Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs, Project Manager Anthony Abubakar highlighted that the delay is purely financial rather than technical. He emphasized that the primary hurdles have largely been overcome, with only minimal work remaining to make the facility fully operational. According to Abubakar, the payment certificates were submitted to the relevant authorities almost twelve months ago, and the continued delay is preventing the team from executing the final 10% of the installation.

Once operational, the irrigation facility is designed to cover approximately 350 acres of farmland, providing a reliable water source for local farmers in the Afram Plains. The project is expected to revolutionize local production of high-demand crops, specifically potatoes and tomatoes, by allowing for year-round cultivation regardless of seasonal rainfall patterns. This infrastructure is viewed as a cornerstone for enhancing food security and boosting the economic livelihoods of the surrounding farming communities.

Local farmers are reportedly prepared to begin intensive production immediately upon the project’s commissioning. Abubakar noted that if the government releases the necessary funding promptly, the facility could be completed and handed over by the end of the current year. The completion of the Ekyeamamfrom-Pivot project represents a significant opportunity for the agricultural sector, provided the fiscal bottlenecks are resolved to allow the contractor to conclude the remaining tasks on-site.