Tumu, March 11, GNA- Mr Ambrose Dery, the Upper West Regional Minister, has appealed to the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) to prepare designs for two dams in each of the eight districts. The cost of the dams will be borne by the district assemblies. He expressed regret that the absence of such important documentation was a hindering factor in the planning and construction of dams in the region and more especially in seeking funding from external sources. Mr Dery said this when he addressed the first meeting of the Sissala East District Assembly at Tumu on Thursday.

He described the district as one of the most fertile parts of the region and urged the assembly to initiate or support programmes that are aimed at addressing setbacks farmers in the district face. Touching on the national health insurance scheme, the minister urged assembly members in the region to make every effort to educate the people to join the scheme, "since we cannot afford to be left out of this very important scheme".

Mr Salifu Waah, the acting Sissala East District Chief Executive, said the assembly has projected to collect 473.5 million cedis from internally generated sources in the 2005 fiscal year. The assembly raked in 388.1 million cedis out of its target of 436.2 million cedis last year.

Mr Godfred Issaka Kanton, the Presiding Member, appealed to members to eschew partisanship and to work in the interest of the people whom they represent.