Government secures GHS95 million for Jirapa Electricity Project- MP

Government has secured an 80 million dollar loan from the Chinese government and will contribute an additional 15 million dollars through the supplementary budget for the provision of electricity to the northern parts of the country, linking every town, community and village to the national grid before the end of 2012.

This came to light when the Member of Parliament for Jirapa, Dr Francis Bawaana Dakurah and board member of the Energy Commission met with the members of the Jirapa Youth Development Association (JAYDA), an umbrella organization grouping all sons and daughters from the Jirapa district; founded in 1983.

The meeting sought to bring to life, the JAYDA group which has since 1989 become dormant and to find ways and means of making it truly functional to champion the development of the area.

Dr Bawaana said the electrification project will cover vast areas. He said because the project is so dear to the people of the region all parliamentarians from all political divide sunk their differences by coming together to support the passing of the bill for the loan on the floor of Parliament.

He said the dormancy of JAYDA was as a result of political differences that had in time past been allowed to eat deep into the activities of the group relegating development issues to the background. He said the revamping of JAYDA is now going to see a different approach as it is going to be above partisanship and only work towards development of its areas. He called on all to support in this direction to make it a success.

He hinted that he is providing an amount of Ghc70, 000 for the construction of fitness gymnasium for the Jirapa community where all will have access in ensuring that the people stay healthy. He said JAYDA has been tasked to find a suitable plot of land to site the gym project. He urged the people to come out to give the project the support it deserves by coming in their numbers to assist in communal labour in order to cut cost involved in the construction of the gymnasium.

Dr Bawaana said to make the project more sustainable, after completion, a fee will be charged in running the place so that it can be truly functional.

He warned the people to be circumspect in their dealings with politicians as that can lead to block formation and splinter groups within the newly revamped JAYDA, saying “loyalty must be reciprocal as this time round the loyalty of the people should be to the group not to any political organization”.

The presiding member for the Jirapa district assembly, Evans Sunkari called for responsible men to be in charge of affairs of the organization as that is the only way to ensure that JAYDA succeeds. This must be complemented with quarterly meetings and monetary contribution on regular basis to make it more functional in carrying out development projects in the district.

He said the Bongo festival should be used as a rallying ground to develop the district as the recently held one showed a great sign of togetherness. He said the elderly must respect the young as they are the succeeding generation and unity should be the watch word in this regard.

The group earlier in the day embarked on a cleanup exercise around the St. Joseph's hospital and other important public places in the Jirapa Township.

Story by Rafiq Salam/Joynews/Jirapa