The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has directed the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to seek police assistance to evict Dr. Benedict Bonaventure Aligeba, former Managing Director of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region Limited (ICOUR), from his official bungalow after his post-retirement occupancy period expired.
The directive was issued during the PAC’s fifth day of public hearings on the 2025 Auditor-General’s reports, where public institutions were scrutinised over their management of public resources and compliance with procurement regulations.
The dispute over the bungalow has dragged on since Dr. Aligeba retired in March 2024. He has refused to hand over the official residence, despite the expiration of his one-year post-retirement occupancy period. The conflict traces back to a decision by the company’s former board to extend his contract by two years, a decision later revised to three months. The disagreement escalated after the former MD was locked out of his office, prompting him to take legal action.
Court records presented to the Committee indicate that an injunction application filed by Dr. Aligeba was dismissed by the Bolgatanga High Court. Despite the ruling, he has continued to occupy the official residence. He reportedly maintains that he was unlawfully locked out of his office and is holding onto the property because his personal belongings remain inside.
The continued occupation has created significant operational challenges for ICOUR. The current Managing Director, Dr. Dominic Anarigide, has been forced to reside in Bolgatanga while commuting to work in Navrongo. Appearing before the Committee, Dr. Anarigide lamented that all previous efforts to resolve the impasse—including interventions by the former Chief of Staff and other government officials—had proven unsuccessful.
The PAC’s intervention formed part of its broader examination of the Auditor-General’s Report on ICOUR, which also highlighted financial irregularities and broader administrative challenges within the organisation. At the same hearing, the Committee urged the Tree Crops Development Authority to make productive use of about GH¢25 million held in its account, and cited the Cocoa Processing Company Limited for procurement breaches.
ICOUR, established in 1983 as a limited liability company, manages the Tono and Vea Irrigation Schemes in the Upper East Region, covering approximately 2,882 hectares. It was set up to support small-scale farmers with access to irrigation water and guidance on improved agronomic practices, with a mandate to improve food security in the region. The Tono Irrigation Scheme, constructed between 1975 and 1985, is located at Navrongo in the Kasena-Nankana District.
The Public Accounts Committee is constitutionally mandated to examine the Auditor-General’s report on Ghana’s public accounts, ensuring that public funds are managed transparently and that institutions comply with procurement and financial regulations. It reports to Parliament at least twice a year.
As of the time of reporting, Dr. Aligeba had not publicly responded to the PAC’s latest directive. The Committee has firmly mandated the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to seek police assistance to ensure the former Managing Director vacates the residence if he refuses to do so voluntarily.
