Social Investment Fund (SIF) spends more than three billion cedis in

Gomoa

Gomoa Okyereko (C/R), May 8, GNA - The Social Investment Fund (SIF), a component of the Ghana Poverty Reduction Programme (GPRP), in partnership with the Gomoa District Assembly and beneficiary communities have spent 3,127,825,230 cedis on 19 projects and micro-credit in Gomoa in the past three years.

The SIF provided 2.7 billion cedis while the assembly 469,173,784 cedis, representing 15 percent and the communities contributed 113,495,057 cedis being 10 percent of the counterpart funding of the project as demanded in the terms for accessing SIF grant.

Miss Joyce Aidoo, District Chief Executive of Gomoa, announced this at the inauguration of one classroom, a staff common room and a library constructed by SIF at a cost of 145 million cedis at Okyereko. Miss Aidoo appealed to Ghanaians to discard the notion that it was the responsibility of the government to provide the citizens with all social amenities.

"The time has come for us to take our destiny into our own hands and stop relying on government and donor agencies for all our needs," the DCE said.

She urged chiefs to rekindle the communal spirits of their people to enable them tackle any project approved for their communities with zeal.

Miss Ama Serwaa Dapaah, Executive Director of SIF, said the African Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The OPEC Fund and the Government of Ghana have provided about 20.8 million dollars for the SIF.

Miss Dapaah said the fund has expanded its coverage from six pilot districts to 80 operational districts.

She said between 2001 and March 2004, 110 projects valued at 15.4 billion cedis have been approved for nine districts in the Central Region. The districts are Gomoa, Asikuma-Ododen-Brakwa, Twifu-Heman-Lower Denkyira, Cape Coast, Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Mfantseman, Ejumako-Enyan-Essiam, Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese and Awutu-Effutu-Senya.

Mr Gabriel Teiko Tagoe, Central Regional Officer of SIF, urged Ghanaians to cultivate culture of maintenance to prolong the lifespan of public facilities.

He urged teachers to take advantage of the irrigation facilities at Okyereko to teach the children farming. Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea II, Omanhene of Gomoa Akyempim urged citizens to do away with litigations to ensure unity and development.