EU finances 145 projects in Upper West

Wa, April 10, GNA - The Upper West Region has so far benefited from 145 projects financed by the European Union (EU) at a total cost of 11.2 billion cedis since the region joined the Fourth EU Micro-Projects Programme at its first phase.

The projects comprise school blocks, clinics, market structures and water and sanitation facilities.

Notwithstanding this volume of EU assistance the Regional Minister, Mr Ambrose Dery, said the situation on the ground on such critical areas like household food security, water, health and education, still needed more attention.

Mr Dery, who was speaking at the launch of the Sixth EU Micro Projects Programme at Wa, appealed for more support for the region from the country's development partners.

Mr Dery warned that the Regional Co-ordinating Council would hold District Chief Executives personally responsible for lapses that might occur in the implementation of any project in their districts. He mentioned failure to provide communal labour and contributions, purchases of inferior materials and use of unskilled artisans in the execution of projects as some of the lapses.

The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, said in a speech read for him that districts that failed to perform well in the implementation of the projects would have a number of future projects allocated them reduced while those that do well would be rewarded.

He urged frontline ministers, regional co-ordinating councils and district assemblies to make sure that projects provided under the EU Micro Project Programme were supported with the required logistics to facilitate their efficient utilisation.