Ghc64.4m office for new districts

The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Debrah, made it known in parliament yesterday that the government was using at least GH¢1.4 million, to construct administration block for each of the 46 newly-created districts across the country.

This translates into at least GH¢64.4 million that would be spent on the 46 districts.

He said the figure could be reviewed upward depending on the topography of the land on which some administration block would be sited.

The minister was answering questions on what his outfit was doing to help the newly-created districts get their permanent administration blocks to enhance effective administration of the districts

He could however, not provide a ceiling as to how much would be spent if the topography of a particular district demands that a higher amount should be spent on the administration block, saying that that would depend on the landscape of the district.

Mr. Julius Debrah was in parliament to answer a question filed by the new Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for yagaba/ Kubori in the northern region, Mustapha Ussif, as to when the Mamprugu/ Moaduri district in the region would receive the seed money of GH¢1 million promised all new districts in the country.

In addition, the minister also answered a question posed by the NPP MP for Chereponi – also in the region – Sanda Azumah, regarding when the Chereponi district would have a permanent administrative office.

The local government minister explained that construction of administration blocks had started in 18 districts across the country and that processes of awarding contracts for the remaining 28 districts were on-going.

According to them, an initial amount of GH¢100,000 was provided for the purchase of equipment and furniture in each of the 46 new districts to start their operations.

He said the ministry also purchased 46 brand new vehicles at the cost of GH¢86,330 each to be used by the District Chief executives.

He asserted that the government was committed to ensuring that the new districts were fully resourced to enhance their operations.

The MP for yagaba/Kubori said since his district was created there had not been any offices or stationery to run the administration of the district and that officers running the new district had been seconded from Tamale and had to trek everyday to and fro work.

“As a new district we lack everything – offices, stationery, personnel and accommodation – and as a result, the running of the district is virtually at a standstill,” Mustapha Ussif said, while charging the government to quickly come to the aid of the Mamprugu Moadori district.