Saltpond (C/R), Feb. 6, GNA - The Mankessim Central Market

in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, is to benefit

from an 810,000 Euros 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 which 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.