Accra, Jan. 19, GNA - The Japanese government has provided a grant of 93,890 dollars for the construction of a clinic and a furnished two-bedroom medical staff bungalow at Tinsungu/Kotangu in the Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region.

Mr Keiichi Katakami, Japanese Ambassador, signed the grant agreement on behalf of his country whilst Mr Musah Abdulai, Municipal Chief Executive initialled for Ghana. Mr Katakami said the grant which was approximately GH¢135,174 would aid in the construction of a consulting and dressing rooms, a delivery ward, a lying-in ward and a dispensary as well as a storeroom and toilet facilities.

He said the medical equipment needed to run the clinic would also be purchased through the grant. The Ambassador said the project, which was expected to be completed in 2011, would help provide wider medical coverage to a greater number of people in the region, adding that more than 31,000 people in the Tinsungu/Kotanga area were expected to benefit from improved access to health care.

He said Japan realised the importance of access to health services in the development of Africa and had therefore made basic health projects a priority through the Grassroots Grant Scheme. "Since 1989 the Embassy of Japan has funded 51 basic health care projects throughout the country," he said.

Mr Abdulai expressed gratitude for the assistance and gave the assurance that the Bawku Municipal Assembly would complement the project with the needed electricity and water facilities.

He also indicated that the chiefs and people had as their contribution provided land for the project, while the Ghana Health Service as well as the Ghana Audit Service had expressed readiness to deploy the appropriate health personnel and audit staff to ensure the judicious use of the resources and to man the facility efficiently. Mr Abdulai said the assembly was also prepared as the development and planning authority, to provide the needed buck-up to ensure the completion of the project, its judicious use and its maintenance to benefit the general population and also help ease the current pressure on the Presbyterian Hospital, the only facility that served the entire Municipality.