Ghana/European Union provides 159 projects in Northern Region

Libi (NR), Sept. 6, GNA - The sixth European Union (EU)/Government of Ghana (GOG) Micro project has provided 159 projects in the Northern Region at the cost of GH¢3.34 million to improve on the living standards of the people.

Nine of the projects are situated at the East Gonja District, where a newly constructed three- unit classroom building was inaugurated as part of the project on Thursday.

Kpansheguwura Adam Abudu, Paramount Chief of Kpanshegu, who spoke at the inauguration ceremony appealed to government to take pragmatic steps to improve on educational facilities in rural communities as a means of eliminating poverty in the country.

He said education was a profitable investment, which must be given priority attention through the provision of the necessary infrastructure, teachers and teaching materials. The project was constructed in collaboration with the district assembly.

Kpansheguwura Abudu said the industrialized countries could boast of development and technological advancement because its people had quality education no matter their geographical location. He appealed to government to stop paying lip service to improving the lives of the rural folk and focus on giving them quality education. He observed that the Libi community lack well educated people saying: "The time has come for government to know that education is key to development so that educational infrastructure would be built in all rural communities."

Kpansheguwura Abudu said the few communities in the area that were privileged to have schools had no teachers and asked the Ghana Education Service to strengthen its surveillance unit to monitor and weed out truant teachers.

Mr. Mumuni Alhassan, District Chief Executive stressed government's determination to improve on education to give the opportunity of every child of school age to be literate.

He pledged to sponsor any girl-child from the Libi community who qualified for tertiary education.

Mr. Martin Kwabena Badu, Zonal Co-ordinator of the EU said the Union would continue to execute projects that would bring income to the people and advised beneficiary communities to cultivate the culture of maintenance.

He said the EU had so far provided some 904 infrastructure projects in six regions of the country comprising Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Eastern, Volta and Central regions.

Mr. Badu said plans were underway to cover all the 10 regions. He Badu also inaugurated EU/GOG projects at Kpandai in the Kpandai District and Afayili in the Nanumba North District.