1. INTRODUCTION:

The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) was set up in the early sixties when it functioned as Land Planning and Soil Conservation Unit (LPSCU) of the Ministry of Agriculture. In 1964 the LPSCU was upgraded to division status in the Ministry and known as the Irrigation Reclamation and Drainage Division (IRDD). In 1974, the IRDD was further transformed into a complete Department of the Ministry and called the Irrigation Department. The department was out doored as an autonomous entity through the promulgation of the Irrigation Development Authority Decree, 1977 (SMCD 85). The objects and functions spelt out in this decree largely determined the structure of the Authority from then on.

Presently the Authority is organized into four functional Departments which are responsible for the technical and operational assignments contingent on the annual performance targets set by the Authority The Departments are as follows:-

1. Planning, Budgeting Monitoring and Evaluation (PME)
2. Project Development
3. Scheme Oversight (S.O)
4. Irrigation Technology and Innovation
5. The Legal and Administration (L&A)

There is also an Internal Audit Department. This department plays a critical role in ensuring that funds and other resources of the Authority were put to judicious use and that proper accounting and reporting procedures were duly complied with.

2. VISION:

To be the leader in the development, promotion and utilization of available water resources for agricultural use to ensure food security and sustainable livelihoods.

3. MISSION:

To provide effective and efficient Agricultural Water Management services and maintain reliable irrigation systems for sustained benefit to the national economy through the formulation, regulation and execution of appropriate policies to benefit farmers, industry and institutions within a sustainable environment.

4.OBJECTS OF GIDA

The objects of GIDA as spelt out in the Strategic Plan are as follows:

1. Provide efficient technical services in irrigation infrastructure development to enhance water and soil conservation best practices;
2. Assist farmers and other clients in irrigation and other Agricultural Water Management (AWM) technology transfers;
3. Provide consultancy services in irrigated agriculture.

5. MAIN FUNCTIONS

The functions of the Authority as defined in the SMCD 85 are as follows:

a) To formulate plans for the development of irrigation in the country;

b) To develop the water resources of the country for irrigated farming, livestock improvement and aqua culture;

c) To execute comprehensive programmes for the effective use of irrigated lands in cooperation with other agencies involved in providing extension services to farmers;

d) To carry out land use planning in areas earmarked for development in order to conserve the soil and water resources in those areas;

e) To lay out the environs of each project area for housing purposes and for the provision of other social amenities;

f) To cooperate with other agencies for safeguarding the health and safety of all people living within and around irrigation project areas; and

g) To undertake such other activities as are incidental or conducive to the discharge of its functions as defined by the decree.

5.1 GIDA Restructuring and Modernization

GIDA, is currently undergoing restructuring and modernization in order to meet changing trends in the irrigation sub-sector. The restructuring will bring about a change which will transform the Authority into an autonomous, flexible, proactive, sub-sector planner, regulator, advisor, supervisor, facilitator and public service provider.

Additionally, the restructuring and modernization requires GIDA to move away from Operation, Maintenance and Management (OM&M) of schemes. The result is that some of the schemes will be managed under Public Private Partnership (PPPs) arrangements by Scheme Management Entities (SMEs). The SMEs will be in charge of the day-to-day management of small and large schemes and undertake key functions that will include operation and maintenance of infrastructure and administrative activities including the collection and proper use of Irrigation Service Charges (ISC) which will be paid by farmers. Small schemes with no SMEs will be put under the management of Water User Associations (WUAs).

Furthermore, Kpong Tono and Vea Irrigation Scheme is to be rehabilitated while Kpong Left Bank (Torgorme) Irrigation Scheme will also be rehabilitated and expanded with Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) funding for commercial, anchor and medium-scale farmers. As part of the Public Private Partnership( PPP) arrangements, the Authority has facilitated access to land by a number of commercial farmers some of whom undertake large scale production of banana and flowers for export. Others produce tilapia fingerlings in commercial quantities for the local market.

Under the PPP arrangement, the commercial, anchor and medium scale farmers will be required to organize the smallholder farmers. These commercial nucleus or anchor farmers will work on part of the irrigation schemes and render such services as farmer training, supply of production input such are fertilizers and seed to smallholders and buy output from them for marketing.

As part of activities to facilitate PPP arrangements, GIDA has set up a PPP Unit to lead the Authority in all PPP transactions and will enter into a formal contract with the prospective investors to ensure transparency and fairness. Additionally, a one-stop-shop has been established to support investors in acquiring land for irrigation purposes.

Currently, Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF) now Exim Bank of the Ministry of Trade and Industry is providing funds to undertake the projects listed in Table 2. In line with GIDA’s new mandate, these schemes are to be operated, managed and maintained on a PPP basis with interested investors.

The GIDA mandate and the operational practices have been re-assessed, as outlined in the restructuring and modernization document, and recommendations have been made as to how GIDA should focus its operations in the future. GIDA’s basic functions can be summarised as:

• Technical and operations:

-       Guidelines and capacity building for stakeholders in the AWM/irrigation sub-sector;

-       Regulation and standards for AWM/irrigation construction and management;

-       Quality assurance of planning, construction and management of AWM/irrigation facilities; and

-       Support to sustained operation and maintenance of AWM/irrigation facilities.

• Planning and coordination:

-       Monitoring;

-       Strategic and investment planning;

-       Coordination;

-       Resource mobilization; and

-       Policy development.

It is thus clear that the nature of GIDA is that of a service-oriented and capacity-building organization assisting the sector with superior technical knowledge and know-how on AWM/irrigation. The reference point and the future organizing principles for GIDA thus relate to a knowledge-based service organization.

Transforming GIDA into an organization with such characteristics is a huge and demanding task with a number of institutional, structural, procedural and staff-related consequences. The change process will take time and considerable energy as well as relying on substantial support from external stakeholders.

Table 1: EDAIF-Supported Projects

6.MANAGEMENT OF GIDA

An eleven (11) member Board of Directors (BOD) formed in accordance with provisions in the SMCD 85 perform the responsibility of formulating policies and approving the annual financial proposals, programs, and projects submitted by an Executive Management Team (EMT). The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who is assisted by two (2) deputies heads the Executive Management Team and they provide technical and administrative leadership to a corps of Directors who head the functional divisions within the Authority. Together as a team, the EMT works under the general control of the Board and are responsible for the day-to-day management and the general administration of the Authority

7.PUBLIC INFORMASTION

We expect the public to be informed that GIDA provides the following services and also expect the general public to get in touch with GIDA when these services are needed and also collaborate and cooperate with us in our delivery of these services:

• Develop design standards for irrigation infrastructure
• Design irrigation infrastructure and related facilities eg. Dams, Dugouts Ponds, tube wells and other conveyance structures
• Carry out land use planning in areas earmarked for irrigation development in Ghana
• Provide public irrigation facilities for farming communities
• Provide technical services for development of irrigation facilities
• Providing technical and managerial services for effective use of irrigation facilities for irrigation farming, livestock improvement and aqua culture
• Develop and disseminate adaptive irrigation technologies

8.ACHIEVEMENTS

GIDA over the years have developed a lot of community based irrigation infrastructure for the use by small scale farmers. Fifty seven (57) irrigation schemes have been developed by GIDA country wide, with a total of about twelve thousand eight hundred and three (16,175ha) of land being put under irrigation for the cultivation of various vegetable crops and rice. This is to enable small scale farmers cultivate the land all year round and consequently increase their farm income annually

Table 2: Existing Public Irrigation Schemes developed by GIDA

9.National Irrigation Policy

GIDA has National Irrigation Policy Document which is now being revised.

10.SERVICE STANDARDS:

11.COLLABORATING INSTITUTIONS

GIDA has a lot of collaboration with other local and international institution in the country notable among them are the following

• EDAIF(Exim Bank)
• Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies ( MMDAs)
• Ministry of Finance(MoF)
• Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP)
• Ghana Social Opportunities Project (GSOP)
• Volta River Authority (VRA)
• Northern Electricity Department (NED)
• Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)
• Attorney Generals Department (AGD)
• Irrigation Farmers Associations (IFAs)/ Water Users Associations (WUAs)
• Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA)
• Water Resources Commission (WRC)
• Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development
• Lands Commission
• Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua Culture Development
• Korea Rural Community Cooperation (KRC)
• Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA)
• Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

12. CONTACT DETAILS:

All enquiries comments and complains may be addressed to

•        The Chief Executive

     Ghana Irrigation Development Authority

     P.O.Box MB 154 Accra

     Tel: (233-0302) 662050/668661

     Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

     Website: www.gida.gov.gh

•        Regional Offices : The Regional Manager ,

                               Irrigation Development Authority

                               P.O.Box 21 Wa UW/R Tel:(03920)20178

                               P.O.Box 74 Bolga UE/R Tel:( 03820)23093

                               P.O.Box 230 Tamale N/R Tel:(03720)22548

                               P.O.Box 104 Techiman Brong Ahafo & Ashanti Regions

                               P.O.Box 19 Cape Coast C/R Tel:( 03321)32546

                                           P.O.Box 165 Ho V/R Tel:( 03620)27613