Germany grants 11 million Marks to Ghana

Ten districts are to benefit from an 11 million-Deutsche Mark loan for infrastructure development under the third phase of the Promotion of District Capitals Project (PRODICAP).

The German government funded the first and second phases, which would end in December 2003 with 39 million-Deutsche Marks. Mrs Levina Owusu, Co-ordinator of the project, told the GNA in Sunyani that the German Technical Co-operation Agency (GTZ) and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are implementing the project. She was speaking at a workshop for District Chief Executives and Planning Officers of the districts to boost the decentralisation programme.

The districts and the government are expected to contribute five per cent each towards the total cost of the programme. The programme was started in September 1996 with only four districts in the Brong Ahafo and Ashanti regions but was increased to 10 during the second phase. Under the first phase, a market with a lorry park was constructed at Atebubu, while small portable water systems and sanitation facilities were provided for the Nkoranza, Ejura and Kintampo districts.

Mrs Owusu explained that communities with populations of over 5,000, which are ready to set up a maintenance team and fund and did not benefit under the Urban V Project would be considered. She said qualified towns could apply for funding of projects costing up to 1.5 billion cedis.

Opening the workshop, Mr Donald Adabre, Regional Minister, noted that the third phase starting in November next year would include the construction of schools and clinics and the development of sites for artisans. He urged the participants and the districts to ensure the success of the project to encourage the German government to extend it to other parts of the country. The Regional Minister expressed the hope that the workshop would equip the participants with strategies to ensure the success of the programme.