Konfaabiala (UW), July 12, GNA - The Community Based Rural Development Project (CBRDP) has disbursed 600 million cedis (60,000 GH cedis) to 80 groups engaged in rural enterprises through the Sonzelle, Nandom and Sissala Rural banks since it effectively began operations in the Upper West Region this year.

The project has also identified about 28 groups such as charcoal producers for assistance to divert into alternative activities like the nursing and cultivation of economic tree and herbal plants under the community based natural resource management component of the project. Mr Sammy Djomoah, Regional Project Engineer of CBRDP, made this known to the Ghana News Agency at Konfaabiala in the Wa Municipality at a ceremony during which a contract was signed towards the commencement of work on the upgrading of the Konfaabiala Market. The project, which would be executed at a total cost of 564 million cedis, involves the construction of three-20 unit market stalls, one ten-seat KVIP toilet and one urinal.

Mr Djomoah said CBRDP had the over-all objective of improving the lives of the rural people and not only the provision of basic infrastructure like the provision of boreholes, agricultural projects and CHIPS compounds but also the establishment of micro-credit schemes to alleviate poverty.

Mr George Hikah Benson, Upper West Regional Deputy Minister urged members of the community to support and cooperate with the contactors and consultants in the implementation of the project. Naa Abu Ahmed Mumuni, chief of the village thanked the government for also constructing a nutrition centre for the community and noted that this was a clear testimony of its love for the people.