Apam, July 8, GNA - Two Town or Area Councils in each district are to benefit from the community-based rural development (CBRDP) pilot programme.

Under the programme, the selected town or area council should be given the power to plan and execute their own projects with the support of District Assemblies and the Rural Infrastructure Co-ordinating Unit (RICU).

Mr Gabriel Mfodjo, a Gomoa District Planning Officer, announced this at a workshop to sensitise some representatives of 14-Town and Area Councils in the district on CBRDP.

The CBRDP is a successor project for the Village Infrastructure Project, which ended early this year.

Unlike the VIP, which was implemented by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would execute the new project being funded by the International Development Association of the World Bank, Agence Francaise Development and the Government. Mr Mfodjo said the success of the programme would erase the impression that Town and Area Councils did not have the capacity to manage their own affairs.

He said the measure would help to ensure effective decentralisation at the grassroots.

Mr Mfodjo explained that CBRDP was aimed at reducing poverty in rural areas by improving the people's income and quality of life. He said capacity building would feature prominently in the programme.

Mr Eric Akobeng, District Budget Analyst, Mr Ebo Nkum, District Public Works Department (PWD) Engineer and Nana Adusei Poku, District Officer took turns to sensitise the participants on the need to prepare budget estimates.