This document summarizes the findings of a study on public-private partnerships (PPPs) for irrigation development in Ghana. It assessed 7 case studies of different PPP arrangements. The study found that private sector partners saw themselves as bringing management rather than funds. It also found challenges around land tenure security and water access. Multiple government agencies and other actors were involved in the various PPP arrangements. Overall, the document concludes that relationships between partners, specifically transparency, trust and accountability, appeared to be critical factors for the effectiveness and sustainability of the irrigation PPPs in Ghana.

1. Assessing Models of Public-Private
Partnership for Irrigation
Development (AMPPPIDA) –
Findings from Ghana
Presentation at an International
Validation Workshop
IFPRI Office, CSIR Campus, Accra,
Ghana
13th March 2018

2. Introduction
The study is an assessment of several different arrangements of
PPPs for irrigation development in Ghana.
It provides evidence for the development of a suitable
framework for institutional arrangements for irrigation PPPs in
Ghana and Africa.
It specifically addresses the following:
What are the different institutional arrangements for PPPs in
irrigation in Ghana?
What are the main challenges facing irrigation PPPs in
Ghana?
What critical factors affect the outcomes of PPPs in irrigation,
particularly in terms of relations among the government,
private sector investors, and smallholder farmers?

3. Methodology
The Ghana study undertook seven case studies of different
types of PPPs even though all of the cases do not meet the
strict definition of PPPs.
4 were from the south (Greater Accra and Volta Regions) –
Mainly in the Kpong and Weta Irrigation Schemes; thus they
are on previously government developed areas.
3 were from the north (Northern and Upper East Regions) –
All are on newly developed privately acquired lands.
Data collection was mainly by key informant interviews (KII)
and focus group discussions (FGDs) as well as observation of
activities.
Netmappings were done at Regional and National Levels.

4. The Seven Case Studies
FIRM CROPS CULTIVATED APPROXIMATE AREA
IRRIGATED (Ha)
Golden Exotic Ltd.,
Greater Accra Region
Bananas and rice 1,200
Anyako Farms Ltd.,
Volta Region
Maize (and rice) 500 (90 for outgrowers)
VegPro Ghana Ltd.,
Volta Region
Baby corn, avocado, mangoes,
butternut squash and chilies
1,070
GADCO-Wienco Ltd.,
Volta Region
Rice About 600
Kukobila Nasia Farms
Ltd., Northern Region
Mangoes, maize, soybeans,
sorghum, butternut squash
100 (50 for Company, 50 for
outgrowers)
IWAD Wienco Ltd.,
Northern Region
Maize, sorghum, rice,
sugarcane
400 (150 for in-growers)
Zebango Royal Farms
Maize 10

5. Golden Exotic Ltd (GEL)
Activity Donor GoG DA GEL CM
Authorization
Planning
Financing
System construction
System operation
System maintenance
On-farm construction
Technical advice
Production Unirrigated
Processing
Marketing
Risks assumed
Benefits assumed

6. Kukobila-Nasia Farms Ltd (KNL)
Activity Donor GoG DA KNL CM
Authorization
Planning GCAP GCAP
Financing
System construction
System operation
System maintenance
On-farm construction
Technical advice
Production
Processing
Marketing
Risks assumed
Benefits assumed

7. Main Findings - General
The Ghanaian private sector see themselves as bringing
better management rather than funds into the irrigation PPP
arrangements.
They expect to benefit from government infrastructural
investments (roads, electricity etc.)and development funds.
Some regard such as legitimate government responsibility of
creating “enabling environment”.
It however calls into question whether the arrangements are
actually PPPs.
What does the private sector bring unto the table?
It is to be noted the 3 cases from the north are different from
those in the south since the land is private.

8. Major Findings – Land Issues
While small-scale irrigation technologies can be adopted by
smallholder farmers on their own land, acquiring land for
large-scale irrigation is a challenge.
 Security of tenure is also a serious challenge; it does not
enable private firms to invest in land improvements.
Government guarantees of land security were cited by
company managers as a major benefit of partnering with
the government under PPPs.
Conflicts on land continue to exist in the southern cases even
when compensations were paid by government in the past.

9. Major Findings – Water issues (1/2)
Golden Exotics Ltd, Anyako Farms Ltd, Veg Pro Ltd and
GADCO-Weinco Ltd all source water from the canals of the
KIS and/or directly from the Volta River.
Water conflicts arise in some cases.
For example - there is a laid down water schedule between
GEL and Kpong Irrigation Scheme (KIS) but rice farmers (small
scale irrigators) do not often follow this water schedule
sometimes leading to confrontations
Also Anyako Farms Ltd and VegPro Ltd have upstream and
downstream water use problems.
Payment of water levies to the Water Resources Commission
(WRC) based on the amounts of water utilized is an
unresolved issue.

10. Major Findings – Water issues (2/2)
Multiple uses of water on irrigation schemes are common in all
places.
On the KIS, the water is for crop production, aquaculture/ fishing,
industrial (paper processing), livestock watering, and domestic use
(cooking, drinking and washing).
There is thus pressure on the irrigation water because so many
people are benefitting from the dam leading to the depletion of the
water.
The activities of the industries also pose a great health hazard to the
environment. The water bodies are constantly being polluted with
chemicals and destroying the natural habitat of the fishes.
The main source of water for the northern Ghana irrigation systems
are the Black and White Volta Rivers and their tributaries.
According to the District Assemblies and Chiefs, the water from the
river belongs to everybody and nobody can restrict the use of river
water for irrigation.

11. Major Findings – Actors Involved
Several institutional and individual actors are involved in
the various irrigation PPPs as shown in the netmap.
All irrigation in the country should be, by law, under the
purview of GIDA.
In the cases where the private companies of the irrigation
PPPs are using Government acquired lands as is the case of
those on KIS, GIDA acts as the landlord.
The Lands Commission, GCAP, EPA, WRC, District/Municipal
/Metropolitan Assemblies as well as their Departments of
Agriculture, various departments of MOFA, Northern
Development Authority (formally SADA) and others are all
important state actors in irrigation PPPs.
At the scheme levels there are still many more actors as will
be seen in the AMPPPIDA tool developed.

12. Ghana Regional Netmap
Brown = Govt
agencies
Blue = Private Sector
Yellow = International
Investor (incl. DPs)
Black = CSOs

13. Conclusions (1/2)
One of the key arguments for irrigation PPPs is that irrigation
infrastructural development requires considerable financial
investments and the private sector can support governments in
that direction.
Another important area was the possibility of leveraging support
to smallholder irrigators through the institutionalized private
sector.
The Ghanaian private sector see themselves as bringing better
management rather than funds into the PPP arrangements.
The irrigation “PPPs” are also expected, by the negotiated
arrangements, to support smallholder farmers to be outgrowers
to the various anchor farmers
There are varying levels of success and progress in that direction.

14. Conclusion (2/2)
In some cases it is clear that the level of ecosystems
services erosion and losses in the livelihoods of the people
had been too high compared to present and projected
benefits.
Also risk bearing by and benefits accruing to partners are
not clearly articulated in almost all cases leading to
suspicions between partners.
Good understanding and rapport in terms of
transparency, trust and accountability between the
Companies and community members seem to be the
critical determining factor in the prospects for
effectiveness and sustainability of the arrangements.

15. Thank you for your attention and
God bless you!