Regional News of Sunday, 6 February 2011

Source: GNA

Mfantseman Central to benefit from 810,000 Euros sanitation project

Saltpond (C/R), Feb. 6, GNA - The Mankessim Central Market in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, is to benefit from an 810,00= 0 Euros sanitation assistance to initiate a number of sanitation projects. The African Water Facility initiative is being implemented by the Tripartite Partnership Project (TPP) through the African Development Bank and the Netherlands Water Partnership. The municipal assembly is to provide a counterpart fund of GH¢82,000= , representing five per cent of the project sum. The implementing agent for the funding partners is the Training, Research Networking for Development, a non-governmental organisation (NGO). Mr Henry Kweku Hayfron, Municipal Chief Executive made this known at a press conference at Saltpond. He said Ashiaman and Huni Valley were also project beneficiaries. He explained that Mankessim qualified for the project because the assembly had already prepared elaborate sanitation plan for the town. Mr Hayfron said the projects captured under TPP were a 10 18-seater toilet facility, rehabilitation of two 14-seater toilets, 200 household toilets, eight refuse skips and public bath houses. The others are a 1.5 kilometre drainage system, drainage master plan and capacity building for the assembly staff, NGOs, civil societies and community-based societies on hygiene education. He said contractors would be recruited and trained to manage the projects. Mr Hayfron said the projects were expected to be handed over by March, 2012 and appealed to the chiefs and other land owners to release lands whic= h were free from litigations for the development intervention. He said seven projects started by the New Patriotic Party administration in the municipality had been completed, while a number educational infrastructure had been put up to enhance delivery of quality education. The MCE said a steel bridge was being constructed over River Ochie at Eshirow near Mankessim. He said three reservoirs would be constructed at vantage points to facilitate water delivery to the communities facing water problems when the Antseadze Water Project was completed. He said the assembly had acquired a grader to improve road network in the municipality. Mr Hayfron said the assembly had accessed the District Development Facility through the Functional Organisation Assessment Tool for infrastructure development and capacity building. He said the assembly had planned to construct 13 toilet facilities, a slaughter house for Mankessim and also produce 2,500 dual desks for the schools. The MCE said Essuehyia-Otuam road had been awarded on contract and the contractor had moved to the site to start work. He appealed to the chiefs in the municipality to unite to support the assembly to move the municipality forward.