Loggu (U/W), - Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper West Regional Minister, today commissioned a 90 million cedis dam for the people of Loggu, a farming community in the Wa district. The Swiss Red Cross Society provided 80 million cedis towards the

construction of the dam, while the community offered communal labour. Alhaji Sulemana asked the people to take advantage of the dam to undertake dry season gardening to supplement their incomes. He urged them to diversify their farming activities by incorporating livestock farming with food crop production and warned them against the use of chemicals in fishing.

The regional minister noted with satisfaction that the community has already formed a 15-member committee to manage the dam and advised them to plant trees to protect it against erosion. Alhaji Sulemana appealed to the Swiss Red Cross and the Swiss embassy to further assist the region in the areas of sanitation and the provision of credit facilities to women groups engaged in agriculture and other income generating activities. Dr Peter Schineezer, the Swiss ambassador, said the construction of the dam is an investment which is expected to enhance the living standard of the people. He impressed upon them the need to pay their taxes to enable the government provide them with social amenities.