Accra, May 5, GNA - The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) and the Social Investment Fund (SIF) on Friday signed a 17.7 million-cedi financial contract with the Ga-Mashie Youth Association (GMYA) and the Bukom Youth Development Association (BYDA) to begin projects for the youth in the Ashiedu Keteke Sub-Metropolitan Area.

It will provide employment opportunities for some 22 youth and give support in sanitation educational programmes in some selected communities. The GYMA received a cheque for 6.3 million and the BYDA, a cheque for 11.4million cedis. Mr Emmanuel C. Kotey, Presiding Member of the AMA, signed for the Assembly, Mr Opoku Agyemang, Executive Director of SIF, on behalf of the his organisation, while Nii Armah Tagoe signed on behalf of BYDA and Mr Roger Okuley for the GMYA.

SIF is a special fund put together by the Government, African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme to provide assistance to poor communities in Ghana.

It also provides support to sub-projects initiated, designed and implemented by the communities. Mr Opoku Agyemang said SIF is committed to provide financial support to communities who are deprived of basic infrastructure. He advised the communities to manage their resources well, Saying: "we should police ourselves so that the money will be used for its intended purpose".

Mr Ebenezer Mettle, Secretary of the BYDA, thanked SIF and AMA for providing financial support and said they have made the dream of the people a reality. "We believe that funds provided will cut down dependency, social vices like drug abuse and prostitution and improve the standard of living in the area."