The Japanese government yesterday signed a ?365,423,000 grant with the Zuo Development Committee, a community based organization in the Tamale Municipality of the Northern Region of Ghana.

The grant, under the Japanese Government Grass roots Human Security project is for the construction of a Nutrition centre for the people of Zuo, a suburb of Tamale.

The centre which it to be completed within a year, will complement the work of seven similar centers in the community in catering for the nutritional needs of malnourished children, pregnant women and nursing mothers.

About 192 communities have so far benefited from the scheme since its inception in 1989. Mrs Kazuko Asai, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, signed for her government while Mr Adbul Yaya Abubakar an elder of Zuo, signed for the people of the area.

In her remarks, Mrs Asai said the grant was aimed at improving the living standards of communities in the country. She reiterated the Japanses government’s commitment to sustaining the scheme to help ensure equitable development of every community.

The ambassador, called on the beneficiary community to ensure that the grant was well utilized for the intended purpose.

Mr. William Alagna, Tamale Metropolitan Nutrition Officer, said some 250 children under five years and 120 mothers were benefiting from the support.

He thanked the government of Japan for the assistance and appealed for the provision of a vehicle to enhance the centre’s work.