The Northern Patriots in Research and Advocacy (NORPRA) has called on the government to rethink its approach to providing irrigation for farmers in Northern Ghana by investing in solar-powered mechanized boreholes.
NORPRA says the renewable energy approach is one of the surest ways the government can effectively provide sustainable boreholes to support agriculture in the northern part of the country.
In an exclusive interview with The High Street Journal, Executive Director of NORPRA, Bismark Ayorogo Adongo, described the intense sunlight in the five northern regions, often viewed as a burden, as an untapped resource that could be turned into a powerful driver for agricultural transformation and national food security.
“Another layer of providing water to farmers in Northern Ghana is to tap into our scorching sun. Most of us see it as a problem, but we actually see it as an opportunity where we can develop solar energy for mechanized boreholes,” Bismark Ayorogo told The High Street Journal.
He stressed that, given the agricultural needs of farmers in the north, strategic investments in renewable energy can provide the farming communities with reliable water sources, allowing them to engage in year-round cultivation rather than being limited to the rainy season.
He noted that,” If we invest in renewable energy where we use solar to power mechanized boreholes, it will help most of the farming communities in Northern Ghana, and we will be able to achieve food security in Northern Ghana and the entire country.
This proposal comes at a critical time as frustrations continue to mount over the government’s flagship One Village, One Dam (1V1D) initiative, which critics say has largely failed to deliver sustainable irrigation solutions in the north.
A very significant number of the dams constructed under the program are reported to be dry and unable to serve farmers during the dry season.
By leveraging solar energy, Mr. Adongo believes the government can correct past mistakes and lay a more sustainable foundation for agricultural growth. He argued that mechanized boreholes powered by solar panels would not only provide a consistent water supply for farming but also reduce reliance on expensive diesel-powered systems that many communities cannot afford to maintain.
He stressed that ensuring food security in Northern Ghana is essential for the broader national economy and social stability, adding that the north holds tremendous agricultural potential that remains largely underutilized due to poor water infrastructure.
This call by NORPRA adds to growing voices advocating for a more sustainable, climate-resilient agricultural sector in Ghana, especially in the face of worsening droughts and erratic rainfall patterns.
