Ho, April 19, GNA - Volta Region has been selected alongside five others to benefit from the 6th European Union/Government of Ghana micro-projects programme.

The five other regions are the Upper East and West Regions, Northern, Central and Eastern Regions.

Launching the programme, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, in a speech read on his behalf, said the programme was to help reduce poverty levels in the regions. He expressed the hope that with the commitment of all stakeholders, the impact of the programme on poverty reduction would be favourable at the end of four years during which it would be implemented. Mr Baah-Wiredu announced that the European Union has made available Euro 311 million to support Ghana government's development agenda with a focus on improving socio-economic life of the rural poor through the provision of clinics, schools, market, KVIPs as well as productive activities in the agro industrial sector.

He said the interventions were aimed at enhancing the living standard of beneficiary communities through increased use of the facilities.

The finance Minister said the Ghana continued to enjoy good relations with the European Union and that it has since 1990 made available a total of Euro 50.1 million to the country. He called on beneficiary communities to support the implementation of the projects by providing the needed 25 percent contribution and that districts that excel with the projects will be rewarded non-performing ones would be penalized.

Mr Baah-Wiredu urged Ministries, Regional Coordinating Council and the District Assemblies to ensure that the projects were supported with necessary logistics to facilitate the efficient utilization of the facilities.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi Volta Regional Minister expressed the gratitude of the people of the Volta Region to the European Union and the Ministry of Finance for supporting their efforts with Micro-projects Programme. He said the region benefited from a total of 373 projects including educational, health, markets, water, culverts and sanitation facilities at a total cost of 26,125,941,710 cedis

Mr Dzamesi said in addition to the realization of high quality standards of social infrastructure facilities in town and villages, the capacities of the people and the District Assemblies had been enhanced.