EU to penalise defaulting Assemblies

Any District Assembly that does not meet the requirement for the completion of European Union Micro-Projects would either have its quota of development projects reduced in the subsequent phase or completely removed from the list of beneficiaries, Dr Kwaku Osafo, Project Manager of EU Micro-Projects has warned.

He said the ability of Assemblies to complete projects on schedule would, however, boost their chances of getting more projects in the subsequent phases.

Dr Osafo, who was briefing newsmen at Wa after inspecting some of the EU projects in the Upper West Region, wondered how most of the Districts could meet their deadline in mid May this year as most of the projects were still at foundation level.

He said while projects in Lawra, Sissala and Nadowli Districts were almost completed, Wa and Jirapa/Lambussie Districts were still grappling with some of their projects.

"In Jirapa/Lambussie, almost all the projects are still at the foundation level and I wonder if they can finish before May."

Dr Osafo attributed the delay in the execution of the projects to bureaucracy, apathy, improper recruitment of artisans and non-payment of allowances of artisans.

He appealed to various District Assemblies in the region to work harder to enable them to maintain their first position they chalked last year.

The Project Manager also urged various Assemblies to make maximum use of the existing facilities so as to justify their demand for more development projects.

"We cannot keep on providing you with facilities when you do not make maximum use of the existing ones," he said.

Mr Yaw Takyi-Ferkah, Regional Co-ordinator of EU, said the outfit would step up its monitoring system to weed out all shoddy works.