Wa, Nov.14, GNA - Plan Ghana a British Non-governmental organization (NGO) is to provide about 42 billion cedis to 50 communities in three districts within the Upper West Region to undertake development projects for the next three years. The projects are in the health, water and sanitation, childcare programmes, food and nutrition.

They would be undertaken in 21 communities within Wa East district, 16 within Wa West district and 13 within Wa Municipality. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Wa Municipal Assembly and Plan Ghana for the projects was signed at Wa on Monday. Mr. Amadou Baukum, Country Director of Plan Ghana signed for the NGO, while Mr. Mac Adams Banda, Wa Municipal Chief Executive signed on behalf of the Assembly.

The Country Director cautioned against late execution of projects, and said the Directorate would re-channel funds of Assemblies that would not meet the deadline to other districts.

He said the NGO would continue to support people particularly those living in the rural areas in line with the government's policy to reduce poverty.

Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister, commended Plan Ghana for their tremendous support to the region and called on the beneficiary communities to show appreciation by making maximum use of the facility to the development of their areas.

He said their intervention was timely in the region with perennial hunger and poverty not because they were extremely poor, but because they lacked technical direction to make good use of what was available. "Although there are several organizations supporting farmers in food production, little is known of good nutrition and food security and that is why I see the intervention of Plan Ghana as critical and timely in our set-up," He added.

He appealed to other NGOs to venture into areas where their services were needed and not where they were comfortable. Mr. Banda said the projects would assist the assemblies to develop the children to realize their potentials as a means to developing the future human resource base of beneficiary assemblies. On behalf of the beneficiary assemblies, He pledged to implement the projects in line with the terms of the MOU.