Volta Region to benefit from EU projects

Ho, Jan. 22, GNA - The Volta Region is to benefit from a total of GH=A21,356,413 infrastructural projects under the sixth Micro Projects Programme of the European Union.

Mr Kwabena Dankyi Darfoor, Programme Manager of the European Union and the Government of Ghana Micro Projects Management Unit (MPMU), announced this at the launch of the second phase of the sixth Micro Projects Programme Implementation Information and Education Campaign and the launch of Income Generating Projects (IGP) at Ho on Tuesday. Under the project, classroom blocks, nurses and teacher's quarters, clinics, toilet structures and culverts will be constructed in selected communities in the Region.

Mr Dankyi Darfoor expressed the hope that the projects would be ready for commissioning by March 2009.

He urged the district implementation committees to mobilize their people to offer communal labour and other needed materials to enhance its early completion.

Mr Dankyi Darfoor said the programme was also to introduce income generating projects component to support the youth and women groups to go into agro processing and other economic ventures to reduce poverty. He said Technical Service Consultants for the infrastructural projects of the MPMU had engaged the services of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) to help the districts to identify viable projects, prepare business plans and provide business support services to the selected projects.

Mr Dankyi Darfoor said additional IGP budget of GH=A2381,600 has been allocated for Volta Region, adding that each district would receive GH=A221,000.

Mr Reuben Amegashie, Economic Planning Officer of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council, who stood in for the Regional Minister said a total of 3,743 micro projects had been implemented across the country since 1990, adding that a total of 50.1 million euros had been spent.

He said as a result of the intervention of the European Union some selected communities in the Region benefited from a total of 373 projects at a total cost of GH=A22,612,594 during the 5th micro project, adding that 123 additional projects at the cost of GH=A21,880,739 would be completed by the end of the first phase of the 6th MPP by the end of March this year.

He deplored the indifferent attitude of some community members towards the provision of construction materials and communal labour, which resulted in the delay of the completion of the programme.