Accra (Greater Accra) 5 Feb '99

A Local Government Service would be established, while decentralised departments would be integrated into district assemblies and regional co-ordinating councils. Preparatory work towards the establishment of a community population register system in 16,000 units throughout the country would also be undertaken. For this and others, the government is to spend an amount of 85.8 billion cedis this year on the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwame Peprah, Minister of Finance said in a budget statement he read in Parliament today. Mr Peprah said indicative amounts of 143.4 billion and 151.2 billion cedis have also been allocated for years 2000 and 2001 respectively. The amounts are part of an overall 380.4 billion cedis that have been programmed for the achievement of certain inputs over the next three years The Finance Minister explained that under the programme, the government will speed up the implementation of the decentralisation programme, and build upon the human resource and institutional capacity of local government institutions. The government also intends to increase the coverage of births and deaths registration and continue with interventions to promote human development and sustain the orderly and healthy growth of rural and urban settlements. Giving the highlights on other major initiatives and interventions that would be undertaken, Mr Peprah said an institute of local government studies would be set-up to support human resource development within the sector, while women's groups would be organised and trained to enhance their economic opportunities. Mr Peprah said the expanded sanitary inspection (ESI) would be re-launched to promote enforcement and compliance with sanitation regulations. Young girls and women would also be trained in the women's training institutes to arm them with vocational skills, he added. The implementation of certain programmes including the urban infrastructure upgrading projects in 11 urban areas, namely Bawku, Bolgatanga, Wa, Techiman, Sunyani, Koforidua, Ho, Keta/Anloga, Agona Swedru, Cape Coast and Elmina will continue. Preparatory work towards expanding similar interventions to 25 additional urban settlements throughout the country would also be implemented, the Minster said. Other projects are: waste management sanitation improvement and drainage works in Accra, Tema, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale; the improvement of water supply in Ejura, Kintampo and Nkoranza and rehabilitation of the market and lorry park in Atebubu.