Paga Crocodile pond gets facelift

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (MLGRD) has completed major rehabilitation works at the Paga Crocodile Pond and handed over the project to the Kassena- Nankana East District Assembly.

Works on four chalets, fence structure and a walkway attracted GH?390,000.

Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo who inaugurated the project said the rehabilitation of the pond would serve as a one-stop shop for tourists who visit the area and generate revenue for the District Assembly and traditional authorities.

He said the project was in line with government’s policy towards local economic development by tasking Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to identify three economically potential projects with support from the MLGRD and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to invest and generate employment and stimulate the local economy.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said a National Oversight Committee for local economic development has been set up to come out with a clear cut policy on local economic development.

He noted that implementation of a composite budget, identification of key potentials and development for economic growth in various assemblies was underway.

This he said would shift the concept of development from the provision of social infrastructure to effectively targeted income generating activities in the country.

Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo said 40 districts with six in the Upper East Region are benefiting from the Ghana Social Opportunity Programme.

The programme is a 90 million- dollar World Bank facility given to District Assemblies to improve upon social infrastructure and generate employment for the teeming unemployed youth and farmers during the off farming season.

Mr. Thomas Addah Dalu, District Chief Executive said as part of efforts to offer quality service at the pond site, the Assembly was seeking a strategic investor to enter into public/private partnership geared towards deriving maximum revenue for the assembly and traditional authorities.

He said as part of the income strategy of the district, it had commenced a guinea fowl breeding centre to complement the efforts of central government in its development agenda.

The Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo expressed the need for the District Assembly to maintain the pond and give value for money to the tourists who stopover at the pond on daily basis.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development has presented 400 street lights to the Regional Minister to be distributed and installed at the four newly created districts in the region to improve security.