The government, backed by Global Affairs Canada, has launched an GH¢8 million irrigation project designed to revolutionize vegetable production in northern Ghana. The initiative will see the construction of 25 modern, solar-powered boreholes across 11 districts in the Northern, Upper West, and Savannah regions.
Implemented under the Greater Rural Opportunities for Women 2 (GROW 2) programme by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in partnership with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the project targets dry-season farming and women’s economic empowerment.
Speaking at the symbolic inauguration in Moglaa, Savelugu municipality, Agriculture Minister Eric Opoku noted that erratic rainfall has long stifled productivity in the region. He said the sustainable, solar-powered water sources will allow farmers to cultivate vegetables year-round, ultimately emerging as a hub for vegetable production.
The facilities are expected to irrigate roughly 50 acres of land and directly benefit over 3,000 women farmers organized into Savings and Loans Groups. Alongside the infrastructure, beneficiaries will receive training, agricultural inputs, and assistance with market access.
Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Myriam Montrat, described the boreholes as “engines of transformation” that will boost incomes, improve nutrition, and build climate resilience. She noted that Canada remains committed to northern Ghana’s agricultural development beyond the GROW 2 project’s conclusion in September 2026.
By providing women—who play a central role in vegetable farming but often lack access to land and finance—with reliable water and group-based financing, the project aims to curb rural-urban migration and stabilize local economies. The initiative also closely aligns with the government’s broader agricultural agenda, including the Feed Ghana Programme.
