EU disburses ?45bn on 600 dev projects

THE European Union (EU) has disbursed a total of ?45 billion on the construction of 600 projects throughout the country under the phase one of the 5th Micro Projects Programme, which ends this month.

These include school buildings, health centres and clinics, water and sanitation systems, and vital infrastructure for improving socio economic living conditions in rural areas.

The National Programme Manager of the Micro Projects Management Unit, Dr Kwaku Osafo, announced this at an information campaign workshop for the take off of the second phase of the programme at Hohoe in the Volta Region last Wednesday. The workshop was attended by district chief executives, presiding members, district finance officers, storekeepers and project co-ordinators from Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Nkwanta and Krachi districts of the northern sector of the region.

He said 132 projects estimated at ?10 billion were funded in the Volta Region alone, adding that the same number of projects have been earmarked for the region in the second phase.

Dr Osafo said last year, the EU spent a total of ?48 billion nation-wide, adding that their target is to execute 2000 projects throughout the country by the end of June 2003 to ensure basic socio-economic amenities and facilities to enhance the decentralisation process at the grassroot level.

He, therefore, called on district assemblies to exhibit a high sense of transparency, maturity, to work towards a greater co-operation to reduce illiteracy, poverty and to improve on the standard of living.

He reminded the assemblies of the moral obligation to set aside 25 per cent of the Common Fund for funding capacity building programmes to ensure that deprived communities are not denied of their fair share in the allocation of projects due to the non-availability of funds.

He also urged the assemblies to remain resolute and committed to the process since the ability to succeed will depend on them.

Dr Osafo cautioned that any district assembly that will not perform to expectation in the second phase of the programme will be sanctioned from benefiting from subsequent projects on the grounds that the districts do not have the capacity to carry out its programmes.

Rev S. Pimpong, the Deputy National Programme Manager, urged the assemblies to mobilise skilled artisans from beneficiary communities since no one can defend their cause better in matters of making a living.

Mr Theophilus Ayeh Amankwah, Finance Officer of the unit expressed concern about the late submissions of expenditure reports by some assemblies, stressing that timely submission of reports is very essential to the smooth implementation of the programme.

Earlier in an address, the Hohoe DCE, Mr James Dogbey, called for greater enthusiasm and co-operation from all stakeholders in rural development to facilitate the success of the programme.