The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) would upgrade four feeder roads dubbed: the “Lot VR4 Roads Project” to engineered gravelled networks in the Kpando District and Hohoe Municipality.

The US$ 4.3 million contract would cover a total of 45.86 kilometres comprising the Dzigbe Junction-DzigbeTornu, Kpando-Alavanyo Kpeme, Aveti-TafiAtome-LogbaAlakpeti and TafiAtome-Vakpo Fu-TafiAbuife stretches.

Feasibility studies, engineering designs and bidding documents have been completed with Messrs Justmoh Construction Limited assigned to execute the project within five months following the symbolic official sod cutting ceremony for works to commence at Tafi-Atome.

Ms Cheryl Anderson, Mission Director of USAID-Ghana, said its investment in rural access roads is one of its cardinal objectives towards accelerating the rate of economic growth, helping the country to achieve self-reliance and serving as model of good governance and sustainable development.

She said it is envisaged that these networks would facilitate connectivity, improve access to markets, financial institutions, agro-chemicals supplies in the agricultural value chain, reduce travel time and increase the lower prices of medium and smallholder farmer produce at farm-gates.

Ms Anderson said USAID continued to collaborate with the government of Ghana beyond the MiDA project and was currently funding the construction of 116 biofil toilets and urinals valued at US$ 253,000 to be attached to the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded school blocks in Northern part of the country.

Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MiDA , said his outfit prioritised the rehabilitation of feeder roads in rural farming communities to improve accessibility to the horticultural enclaves and to increase the quality of the portfolio of national feeder roads network.

He indicated MCC/MiDA projects were targeted at developing basic school infrastructure, constructing boreholes, roads and offering assistance to smallholder farmers.

Mr Eson-Benjamin said, six districts from the Region out of 30 beneficiary districts nationwide were hooked onto the project.

Mr Henry Ametefee, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, commended USAID, MiDA and the Government of the United States of America, for their commitment towards poverty eradication and economic transformation in the Region and country in general.

He called on key stakeholders, including traditional and beneficiary communities, to lend their total support for prompt execution of the projects while pledging the commitment of the Regional Coordinating Council.

Dr Margaret Kweku, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, said under the MCA/MiDA Agriculture Component, a total of 33 farmer-based organisations received technical training and starter-pack to activate farming with five additional groups, disbursing GHC 1,177 in Hohoe alone.

She said several school blocks and some boreholes had been constructed and drilled for the people in the two districts.**