The European Union (EU) has released a total of 48.6 billion cedis for the construction of 700 health and educational facilities through out the country this year.

Dr Kweku Osafo, EU National Project Manager who announced this during an inspection of ongoing projects at Agona Swedru said the amount covers the first phase of the programme.

He said the projects which would be supported by the communities with communal labour are expected to be completed and commissioned in January/February 2002.

Dr Osafo who was accompanied by Mr Neketia Sarpong, Project Manager for Central and Ashanti regions said the objective of the EU was to assist the government to provide more health and educational facilities especially in the rural areas.

He said more projects would be undertaken under the second phase of the programme if the first phase was completed on time.

Dr Osafo commended the people for their enthusiastic support for the projects and called on the engineers of the district assemblies to give technical advice to ensure quality work.

Mr John Agyabeng, Agona District Chief Executive assured the EU that the assembly would provide its share 25 per cent of the cost in support of the projects to complete them on schedule .

He said the assembly would renovate all dilapidated school structures to enhance teaching and learning.