EU Spends 27.313 Billion Cedis To Undertake Projects In The Northern Region

Since the inception of the Micro-Projects Programme in 2000 in the Northern Region, the European Union (EU) has spent over 27.313 billion cedis to execute projects in parts of the region.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, the Northern Regional Minister-designate said this in a speech read for him at the opening of a two-day Micro-Project District Information Campaign organised for the three assemblies in Tamale yesterday.

The projects include the construction of school blocks, sanitation and health facilities as well as social infrastructure targeted at addressing the needs of the communities.

The Tamale Metropolis executed 36 projects at a total cost of 3.2 billion cedis, while the Savelugu/Nanton District Assembly executed 34 projects at a cost of 2.81 billion cedis and the Tolon/Kumbungu District Assembly executed 33 projects at a cost of 2.11 billion cedis.

Participants at the workshop included District Chief executives, District Coordinating directors, district finance officers and planning officers.

Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, the acting Tamale Metropolitan District Chief Executive, said the EU projects had contributed immensely to the improvement of the living standards of the people. He said the EU micro-projects programmes were in tandem with the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) I and II.

Mr Adam said there were some shortcomings in the implementation of the 5th EU micro-projects programme but assured that "Enough budgetary provisions have been made in our 2006 budget to accommodate the 25 per cent Assembly and community contributions" to address these problems.