Breman Asikuma, July 6, GNA - The Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District Assembly has approved a 3.8 billion-cedi common fund supplementary budget for the mid year. Mr. Sampson K. Anfako, District Chief Executive, announced this at assembly's second ordinary session at Breman Asikuma on Thursday. The DCE said the government realised that the common fund being in arrears for months was retarding effective implementation of projects in the districts and was working on a plan to release the amount over a period. Mr. Anfako said thousand cocoa farmers had been selected in the district to be introduced to a high technology method of cultivation and supplied six bags of Asaase Wura, fertilizer for two acres and given technical assistance by extension agents. About 6,000 bags of the fertilizer had been received distribution. He explained that the programme was on a pilot basis and said farmers who did not benefit would be considered for assistance in future.

The DCE said the Breman Baako-Ayinabrim road had been put on tender for tarring to boost economic activities in the district while the Asikuma-Assin Manso road had been awarded on contract for tarring and routine maintenance carried out on the Nyamekyue-Ankaase and Brakwa-Ogonase roads. Under the Rural Enterprise Development Programme, the Assembly had recommended oil palm, textile and garment, handicraft, snail, grand cutter rearing beekeeping and mushroom production for the area. The DCE stated that 150 million cedis had set aside to assist groups and individuals in the sectors. He urged the members of the assembly to intensify their education campaign against the HIV/AIDS menace since the national prevalence rate of 3.6 per cent would rise to 6.4 per cent by 2004 and 9.4 per cent by 2014.