Pigu (N/R), Jan 21, GNA- The European Union (EU), has earmarked about 8.5 billion cedis for the third phase of its micro-projects programme in the Northern Region.

The projects would be in the areas of education, health and sanitation, and the provision of boreholes to the rural communities. Mr Klaus-Dieter Gautsch, First Secretary to the EU Ambassador to Ghana announced this at the commissioning of a EU-funded three-unit classroom block with an office and a store at Pigu in the Savelugu/Nanton District on Wednesday.

Mr Gautsch said the total number of micro-projects funded by the EU in the country now stood at more than 3,000 adding that the number would reach about 3,800 by the end of the year.

Mr Ernest Debrah, the Northern Regional Minister in a speech read for him, said the region under the second phase of the EU micro-projects benefited with the construction of 53 basic schools, eight rural clinics nine nurses' quarters, six boreholes, 14 toilets, 11 markets and seven butchers' shops.

He urged the District Assemblies and the communities to contribute to the counterpart funding of the projects to let them have a feeling of ownership.

He commended the Savelugu/Nanton, East Gonja, Saboba/Chereponi and Zabzugu/Tatale Districts for their high sense of commitment to complete their projects on schedule.