SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND UNDERTAKES PROJECTS IN UPPER WEST (PAGE 11, APRIL 30, 2010)

THE Social Investment Fund (SIF) has since the commencement of its operations in the Upper West Region spent GH¢981, 533.63 on education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation.
The SIF Zonal Officer in-charge of the three northern regions, Mr Kwame Obeng Nti, who made this known, said the SIF attached special importance to the development of education, and has, therefore, invested GH¢ 590, 000 towards the construction of 20 classroom blocks in six districts in the region.
Speaking at the inauguration of a six-unit classroom block for Monyupelle, near Nandom, in the Lawra District of the Upper West Region, he said the project, costing GH¢86, 680.44, included a reading room, a staff common room, an office, a store, a five seater KVIP toilet and urinal and was undertaken to ensure effective teaching and learning for pupils who hitherto learnt under trees.
Mr Nti, however, expressed concern about the lack of maintenance of most of the school buildings put up for the communities by the SIF, and stressed the need for the Lawra District Assembly to team up with the district education directorate to see to the regular maintenance of the structures.
He explained that the SIF, which became operational about 12 years ago, was to provide a mechanism to directly channel resources to the very poor on a demand-driven basis.
He, therefore, stressed the commitment of SIF to continue to support rural communities to improve their health and education programmes, as well as undertake other income generating projects in order to improve on their living standards.
The Lawra District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samson Abu, commended the SIF and residents of the Monyupelle for their efforts and communal spirit which he said, facilitated the quick completion of the classroom block.
He called on other civil society groups and non-governmental organisations to complement the efforts of the government in providing educational infrastructure.
The DCE said the Lawra District would soon benefit from the government’s free school uniforms and exercise books projects, adding that the five school blocks would be constructed in the district, and that infrustructural facilities of a number of basic schools would be rehabilitated under the GETFund projects.
Mr Abu further assured teachers of the resolve of the government to reward teachers adequately to boost their moral.
The Assembly member for the Basebelle Electoral Area, Mr Millanus Nateng, expressed appreciation to SIF for the project and said it would help improve the quality of education in the area.