E/R: Three communities get Ghc162,000 to undertake sustainable livelihood enhancing projects

Advocates for Community Alternatives (ACA), a Non-profit making organisation, has reached agreements with three mining communities in the Eastern Region to support them undertake sustainable livelihood enhancing projects.

The beneficiary communities, whose livelihoods have been adversely affected as a result of mining activities in the area are Akyem Juaso and Akyem Nsuapemso in the Fanteakwa South District, and Akyem Segyimase in the Abuakwa South Municipality.

Each of the three communities received $9,000 (Ghc54,000.00) under the Grant Agreement signed at a durbar held at Akyem Juaso near Osino.

The grant, totaling $27,000.00 or Ghc162,000.00, is to support the communities to undertake development projects of their choice, which would improve their livelihoods and health.

Community-based projects

In order to create jobs for the residents, the people of Juaso have agreed to channel their grant into soap-making, which they believe would create sustainable jobs and improve on their income levels.

Residents of Segyimase and Nsuapemso on the other hand are applying their grants in the construction of Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds to address their primary health care needs.

Speaking at the Grant Agreement ceremony at Juaso, the Community Development Director of ACA, Nana Ama Nketia-Quaidoo, said the three beneficiary communities were selected from other mining communities partly as a result of their receptive nature and their level of seriousness about the application of the grant.

She said each of the three beneficiary communities has been assisted to open a bank account in which their money would be lodged and called on the communities to sustain their level of seriousness to ensure that the projects are successfully implemented within schedule.

She emphasised that the money was not meant to be shared among community members but to undertake the agreed projects which would in the long-term inure to the benefit of the entire community.

Grant Agreement

Explaining the Agreement to the people ahead of its signing, a Field Supervisor of ACA, Osei Nimako, said each community was expected to submit periodic progress reports on “a description of what work has been completed on the project and what work remains to be done” as well as “originals of receipt documenting the proper expenditure of all funds previously provided by ACA to Community.”

“ACA and Community contemplate that, during the implementation of the Project, there will be approximately eight or ten Progress Reports, followed by provision of materials and/or funds for the next phase of the Project”, he further stated.

Theophilus Boakye-Bediako, Assistant Planning Officer of the Fanteakwa South District Assembly, commended ACA for coming to the aid of the three communities and pledged the Assembly’s support toward the successful implementation of the various projects.