A comprehensive self-help poverty alleviation programme for the Upper West Region has been launched at Kpazie in the Nadowli District in the region.

The Centre for the Development of People (CEDEP), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), in collaboration with the Danish Embassy and Action Aid Ghana, initiated the programme.

The launch attracted District Chief Executives, District Co-ordinating Directors, Health and Education workers and partner NGOs.

Under the programme, communities, particularly women groups in the five districts of the region would be assisted financially to undertake income-generating activities to enable beneficiaries to care for their families and support development projects in their areas.

Mr John Yelvierabayire, Northern Programmes Manager of CEDEP, called on opinion leaders in the region to avoid disputes and unite to achieve the objectives of the programme.

He said CEDEP, in collaboration with other NGOs such as DANIDA , Action Aid Ghana, Fredrich Ebert Foundation and the Community Water and Sanitation Project, had drilled boreholes and implemented poverty alleviation projects in parts of the district.

Dr Edward Ntifo Siaw, Executive Director of CEDEP, said it was engaged in community resource and gender development and the education on the support required for people living with HIV/AIDS.

He also mentioned family reproductive health training and research/consultancy services, as other human resource development plans of CEDEP.

Dr Siaw said the NGO would collaborate with district assemblies to help reduce the high level of poverty in the region.

He called on beneficiary communities to avoid intimidation and religious intolerance, which could hinder development.

Mr Sahanun Mogtari, Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said poverty could not be eradicated unless pragmatic measures were taken to improve roads and provide potable water and literacy programmes.

He commended CEDEP and its development partners for undertaking the project, adding that it was in line with the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy.