Assessment of Irrigation Schemes in Ghana: Current Challenges, Emerging Opportunities, and Future Pathways

Abstract

Irrigation schemes are vital to agricultural growth in Ghana, offering reliable water access during dry seasons to support year‐round farming, increase yields, and enable crop diversification. Despite Ghana’s abundant water resources, only 2% of the estimated 1.9 million hectares of irrigable land have been developed. This includes approximately 15,980 ha under formal schemes, 189,000 ha through farmer‐led initiatives, and 24,000 ha managed by large‐scale commercial farms. Applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA 2020) methodology, this review identifies key challenges such as aging infrastructure, funding gaps, inefficient water governance, insecure land tenure, and climate variability. The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), which oversees 192 public schemes, faces difficulties in addressing regional disparities. Notably, the Tono Irrigation Scheme alone accounts for 30% of GIDA‐managed irrigated land, while many other schemes remain underutilized. Emerging opportunities, including climate‐smart irrigation technologies, innovative financing mechanisms, land tenure reform, and public–private partnerships (PPPs), offer promising pathways for revitalizing the sector. Water User Associations (WUAs) also play a critical role in ensuring operational sustainability. This review recommends rehabilitating infrastructure, scaling climate‐smart solutions, formalizing land tenure, expanding PPPs, strengthening WUAs, and establishing a national irrigation dashboard. These findings underscore the need for urgent policy reforms, private sector engagement, and strategic capacity‐building to unlock Ghana’s irrigation potential and enhance climate resilience. The review offers actionable insights for policymakers, researchers, and development stakeholders aiming to boost irrigation scheme efficiency.