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Naa Widaana-Nanga II, the Paramount Chief of Takpo Traditional Area in Nadowli-Kaleo District, has applauded the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng for initiating various policies to alleviate poverty.

He made the commendation when the Minister inspected an on-going dam rehabilitation work under the Adaptation Fund Project financed by the Adaptation Fund.

It is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and MESTI with the goal to construct 10 dams, support women in beekeeping, promote irrigation farming and construction of mechanised boreholes as well as tree planting in 50 communities in the northern sector of the country.

Naa Widaana-Nanga described the project as first in history that has come to build capacities of residents through job creation for the teeming unemployed youth.

When the dam is completed it would not only promote dry season gardening but also enhance fruit plantation and fishing for residents around Takpo who are mainly fishermen.

“We used to have only one season and before the next crop season farmers might have consumed all their produce but this [project] would boost production and alleviate poverty that has bedevilled this community,” Naa Widaana-Nanga said.

He also pledged to inaugurate a committee that would regulate the use of water and ensure the smooth registration of farmers - both near and far – with interest in farming, fruit plantation or fishing.

Mrs Catharine Lankono, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Nadowli-Kaleo, also praised UNDP and MESTI for implementing various programmes to ease poverty in the enclave.

She said the initiative would go a long way to employ majority of the youth who always end up in illegal mining, head potter (Kayayee) and migrating to the south to seek non-existent jobs.

Mr Salifu Issahaque, Engineer of the Project, said it would be completed by six months to serve as reservoir for thousands of farmers in Kakpo and its environs to go into dry season gardening, fruit tree planting and fishing.