Sissala West towns complain about darkness

Gwollu (UW), April 23, GNA - Calls on relevant authorities to speed up the processes that will lead to the connection of major communities in the Sissala West District to the National Electricity Grid dominated this year's People's Assembly of the district at Gwollu in the Upper West Region.

The big communities that are yearning to be connected are Jefisi, Fielmua and Pulma.

Majority of the people who had the opportunity to contribute at the forum blamed either the government, the Northern Electricity Department of the Volta River Authority, contractors or their Member of Parliament for the lack of pace of work in getting them connected.

The chiefs and people of the district also appealed to the government to assist them to complete a museum they had started to house their relics in preparation for this year's emancipation day that would be celebrated at Gwollu in July.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, the Minister of State for Regional Co-operation and NEPAD, said the country was lagging behind in development compared to the "Asian Tigers" because human resource was a missing ingredient in its developmental efforts and for that to be addressed, education needed greater attention. He said some of these newly developed countries achieved their goals without natural resources and therefore concentrated on developing human resources.

The government, therefore, introduced the Capitation Grant and the NEPAD School Feeding Programme to ensure that no child was denied of education because of poverty. Mr Ambrose Dery, the Regional Minister, said Gwollu roads would be tarred this year.

He said a consultant had already toured all districts in the region to access the communities that would be connected to the national grid this year.

Mr Ishmael Madah, the District Chief Executive, said the Gwollu Small Town Water Project has been awarded on contract at a cost of 2.2 billion cedis and work would soon begin.