Tamale, July 22, GNA - A total of 7.8 million dollars was disbursed under the community-based rural development project (CBRDP) towards the construction of public infrastructure damaged by the floods that affected 29 districts in the three northern regions in August and October 2007.

An initial amount of 6.5 US dollars had earlier been set aside from the CBRDP funds and this was increased to 1.3 million dollars under an additional existing International fund for agriculture development (IFAD) loan, exclusively for the Northern Region. Mr. James Ebo Sey, National Accountant of the CBRDP, said this at an orientation workshop for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief executives and their Coordinating Directors in Tamale on Tuesday. Mr. Sey said to date 78 prioritised roads by the assemblies had been awarded on contract for spot improvement of approximately 788.0 kilometers with nine in the Upper East Region, nine in the Upper West Region and 11 in the Northern Region.

He expressed concern about the attitude of the assemblies in failing to utilise monies meant for projects in their areas and said because of this several billions of cedis were laying idle in their accounts.

He said if the funds were not used they would not only be returned to chest but could attract penalty from the World Bank and this in turn would affect the country's performance portfolio. Mr. Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the poverty situation in the northern regions was unacceptable and urged the assemblies to make judicious use of the resources at their disposal.

Mr. Moses Mabengba, the Deputy Northern Regional Minister, said the CBRDP was aimed at building the capacity of the assemblies and improving the quality of life of Ghanaians and therefore urged the DCEs to take its implementation seriously. 22 July 09