CEDECOM gets GH¢52 million Ghana for social intervention programmes

Cape Coast, Oct. 14, GNA - Government has approved GH¢ 52, 000.000 to the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM), the development wing of the Regional Co-ordinating Council to undertake social intervention programmes.

The programmes include the construction of a Museum of Black History in Cape Coast, Provision of 57 boreholes in seven districts, rehabilitation of culverts, bridges, roads as well as markets in Biriwa, Dunkwa and Mankessim.

Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, Regional Minister who made this known at the Regional Meet the Press Series said the move aimed at job creation, poverty reduction and the improvement of the well being of the citizenry.

The programme which was attended by the media, heads of decentralised departments, chiefs and a cross section of the public also showcased the development projects being executed in the region from 2009 to date.

The Regional Minister said part of the funds would be used in the construction of 16 CHPS (Community Based Health Planning and Services) compounds in nine districts to close the gap between the communities and health care delivery centres and the rehabilitation of the Swedru Sports Stadium.

Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said the fund would also support fishing and fishery related activities as well as the construction of rest stops for vehicles plying portions of the Western corridor, children’s park, library and ICT centres.

The minister gave the overview of the performance of the various sectors including education, agriculture, security, health, tourism, water and sanitation, roads and electricity in the Region.

On education the minister said the sector had received a major boost through the construction of school buildings to bring the schools under trees at the basic level to the barest minimum.

She said a number of teacher bungalows are being constructed, while the capitation grant has been enhanced.

She said free uniforms, exercise books and laptop computers have been distributed to some basic schools.

The school feeding programme had also been expanded from 40,198 beneficiaries in 2008 to 77,123 across the region, she indicated.

On health, Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said a number of infrastructural development projects are in place to facilitate the upgrading of the Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital.

Mr John Tia Akologu Minister of Information, who presided announced that a regional policy fair which is a replica of the national policy fair would be held in the Volta, Ashanti and Northern Regions this year.

He said such fairs are aimed at engaging all ministries to exhibit their activities and also give account of what they do to the public.

Mr Akologu said seven regions would be covered next year