Emmanuel Agyekum, Minister of State Designate for Special Initiatives, has stated that the fate of the One Village, One Dam (1V1D) policy introduced under the previous administration rests solely with President John Dramani Mahama. His remarks came during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee.
During the session, Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, questioned Agyekum on his stance regarding the Infrastructure for Poverty Eradication Program (IPEP) implemented by the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration. She highlighted the successes of the initiative, which included the construction of mechanized boreholes, small dams under the One Village, One Dam policy, and prefabricated warehouses.
In response, Agyekum acknowledged the impact of these policies but clarified that his mandate does not currently include their continuation.
“I think it was policies that were initiated by the previous administration, that is, His Excellency Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration. I think it made some impact, and it is not something that I can say has been assigned to me. If you look at my designation, I am a Minister of State in charge of the current President’s special initiatives. Therefore, if it is something that I am asked to do, I will work on it. But as I sit here now, I have not been given that mandate,” he stated.
Appiagyei further pressed Agyekum on President Mahama’s campaign promise to cut what he described as “wasteful government initiatives” and redirect funds from projects such as One Village, One Dam into other viable economic development programs. She inquired whether this meant the project would be discontinued.
Agyekum, however, deferred the decision to President Mahama.
“I think it’s the decision of the President, His Excellency, to take that decision. I do not have those powers to say whether I will continue with the project or terminate it,” he emphasized.
