Mampong (Ash), Sept 3, GNA - The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has released 1.4 billion cedis to support agriculture and sanitation in three districts of Ashanti and Brong-Ahafo.

Out of the amount, 660 million cedis had been disbursed as loans and for the purchase of farm inputs to 800 client farmers of ADRA, while the remaining amount would be spent on water and sanitation. Mrs Florence Ntim, National Human Resource Management Director of ADRA who announced this at Mampong, named the beneficiary districts as Sekyere West and Ejura-Sekyedumase in Ashanti and Atebubu in Brong-Ahafo.

She was speaking at the close of a five-day food security workshop for 60 selected water and sanitation members drawn from the three districts.

It was organised by ADRA and sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

Mrs Ntim said the money was to help reduce poverty levels in these districts.

She said ADRA had provided 12 KVIPs, two hand-dug wells and two boreholes fitted with pumps in each of the beneficiary districts. The Human Resource Management Director asked the participants to share the knowledge they had acquired with their close neighbours to facilitate the realisation of the poverty reduction and the improved health of the people,the objective of ADRA.

Mr Fred Nketia, the Field Project Officer for the Mampong operational area, implored the people to use the money judiciously to enable them pay back the loans on schedule.

Madam Elizabeth Kumah, Health Co-ordinator of ADRA for the beneficiary districts underscored the importance of fruits and vegetables in human diets and urged Ghanaians to cultivate the culture of eating more fruits and vegetables instead of eating too much carbohydrate foods.

She encouraged women not to bemoan their poor economic status but accept it as a challenge, overcome it and get on with their lives by engaging in income-generating activities.