Kokoroko (B/A) Oct 9, GNA - A small farms irrigation project estimated at GHC 546,000 is under construction at Kokoroko and Kokoago in the Techiman Municipality and the people have been urged to lend their support for its successful completion. The project, started in 2006, is jointly sponsored by the Arabic Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the government of Ghana and the Irrigation Farmers Association.

Addressing the chiefs and people, including the beneficiary farmers at separate durbars in the two communities, Mr. Alex Kyeremeh, Municipal Chief Executive, stressed that the project would be of immense benefit to them. He said it would allow an all-year-round crop cultivation and this would enhance poverty reduction in the area. The MCE stressed that the huge investment in the project should not go to waste and announced that more access roads and bridges would be constructed to link the project area towards accelerated development. Mr. Kyeremeh called on the people to unite and to initiate development projects to attract the government's support for an improvement in their living standards.

Mr. Kofi Modzaka, acting regional manager of Irrigation Development Authority, said outstanding works on the project included the replacement of sprinklers and the modification of pipe coupling sections.

Mr. Owusu Acheaw, Assembly Member for the area, appealed for the rehabilitation of the Atransu-Kokoago-Kokoroko feeder road, the provision of electricity poles and the construction of KVIP toilets, as well as the extension of the school feeding programme to the area. In another development, Mr. Kyeremeh inaugurated two mechanized bore holes valued at GHC 2,320 at Atransu and Ayeasu communities in the Municipality.

The projects were sponsored by the communities, Community Water and Sanitation Agency and the community-based Rural Development Programme. Mr. Kyeremeh asked the people to maintain the facilities well to ensure their longer lifespan, "since cases of typhoid, cholera and other water-borne communicable diseases are on the ascendancy in the municipality."

He announced that a district development fund would be set up to assist communities to imitate self help development programmes and called on the people to closely monitor government projects to ensure their successful implementation.

Mr. David Tontrong, Municipal Director in charge of Water and Sanitation appealed to the communities to ensure the surroundings of the boreholes were always kept clean.

At Atransu, the chief, Nana Daniel Kwain, appealed to the MCE to help to extend power to the newly developed area and also assist to rehabilitate the only bore hole in the town, which had broken down. 09 Oct. 09