Water storage has a vital role to play in improving food security and reducing poverty, particularly in the geographical context of northern Ghana that is characterized by short unimodal rainfall pattern. A wide range of storage structures are available with the commonest being dams. While the positive effects of large dams have not been thoroughly utilized, the special appeal of small water infrastructure makes them more preferred. Despite the construction of more small-scale dams all over northern Ghana, not all of them remain functional. While some are defective and silted, others are not well engineered, particularly the Gia dug out in the Upper East Region and those constructed under the one village one dam (1V1D) project. Consequently, they are not able to serve their intended purposes. This paper is a case study of the Gia dug out constructed under under the One Village One Dam [1V1D] initiative and provides empirical evidence to inform current and future dam construction.The study examines the shortcomings of the execution of community dams and argues that the reservoir planners in Ghana need to consider re-engineering and correct defects in already constructed reservoirs. Community driven and better management structures, with private sector-led financing of rural water infrastructure projects would facilitate adequate water for all year-round farming. Alternative construction mod els are proposed for implementation.

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