Tuesday, June 16, 2009
CANADIAN GOVT SPENDS GH¢3,485,000 IN UWR (PAGE 20)
THE Canadian Government has spent GH¢3,485,000 in financing various development projects in the Upper West Region since 2004.
The projects include construction of school blocks, teachers and nurses’ quarters, drilling of boreholes and CHPS compounds.
Code-named the District Wide Assistance Project (DWAP) and District Capacity Building Projects (DISCAP), the projects are being supervised by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on behalf of the Canadian government.
This came to light when the Canadian High Commissioner in Accra Mr Darren Schemmer, paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister, Mr Mahmud Khalid, at his office in Wa.
Mr Schemmer was in the region to congratulate the regional minister and the new municipal and district chief executives on their new appointments.
The High Commissioner also inspected some of the projects being undertaken by the Canadian government in the region.
Mr Schemmer visited some schools in the Wa West and Jirapa districts and the Nadowli Government Hospital in the Nadowli District.
Briefing the High Commissioner, Mr Khalid said the region was confronted with a number of development challenges such as high infant and maternal mortality rates, inadequate health facilities and school infrastructure.
He also mentioned lack of accessibility to treated water, low agricultural productivity and the extension of electricity to many parts of the region as some of the major problems facing the region.
Mr Khalid said that notwithstanding those problems, the region had vast arable land for agricultural purposes, sufficient labour force and very attractive tourist sites.
He, therefore, appealed to the High Commissioner to use his good offices to continue to offer the needed support for the accelerated development of the region.
“We have 76 per cent water coverage in the rural areas, but considering the rate of expansion, particularly in the Wa municipality in recent times, we would appreciate it if you continue to assist us to improve upon our water supply systems in the region”, the minister said.
For his part, Mr Schemmer stressed the need for the institution of measures to sustain the projects embarked upon.
He gave the assurance that the Canadian Government would continue to support the region.