Community spends 15 million cedis on poles

Forikrom (Brong Ahafo), 17 March '99 -

The people of Forikrom, near Techiman have spent 15 million cedis to erect 110 wooden poles for their electrification project. Mr James Gyamfi, assembly member for the area said this at a rally organised by the Department of Community Development and the Techiman district assembly to educate the people on topical issues affecting them. Mr Gyamfi said about three-quarters of houses in the communities have been wired under the project which started three years ago. The project is financed through special levies of 10,000 cedis a man and 5,000 cedis a woman for residents, while non-resident men and women are paying 20,000 cedis and 10,000 cedis respectively towards the purchase of the remaining 60 poles. Mr Gyamfi said the people were waiting for the connection of the town to the national grid under the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) and appealed to the assembly to open up roads linking the town to other communities in the area. Mr Francis Yaw Gyarko, District Chief Executive for Techiman, urged the people to pay their levies to enhance development and warned those who fail to pay will be dealt with according to the law.