Trust Fund committed to Resettlement Townships - Chief Adam

Senchi (E/R), March 30, GNA - The Volta River Authority (VRA) makes available the cedi equivalent of 500,000 dollars annually to the VRA Resettlement Trust Fund to be used in the provision of social and welfare projects for communities affected by the construction of the Akosombo Hydro Electric Dam.

In line with this policy, the VRA has created 52 resettlement townships and constructed more than 12,000 houses for the people and communities.

Chief Musa B. Adam, Chairman of the Volta River Authority Resettlement Trust Fund (VRA-RTF), on Thursday announced this at the inauguration of a block of three classroom; kindergarten and 10-seater KVIP at Senchi Resettlement Township in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region.

The Trust disburses funds based on an agreed formula for allocation to the resettlement townships for their project. Chief Adam said the amount allocated to Senchi community since the inception of the fund stood at 145 million cedis, however, the Board had been able to execute projects to the tune of 645 million cedis in the past 10 years, adding that an excess of 500 million cedis of the allocation to the community had been spent on the projects.

He said since the inception of the fund 10 years ago, a total of 344 projects had been executed for all the 52 resettlement townships in healthcare centres, education, community centres and electrification. Chief Adam also expressed Government's commitment to ensure that the welfare of communities, which were affected by the construction of the Volta Dam and the Lake, were compensated adequately.

"Government's philosophy has been to ensure that those, who sacrificed to create the Dam and Lake, which are now the country's treasured assets are compensated in cash and or kind and a better environment created for them as far as possible" he said. He said the Senchi Resettlement Township would be included in the next phase of the electrification project and that a team of consultants had been engaged by the Fund to prepare and forward drawings to the Ministry of Energy.

He pledged that the Trust in collaboration with the water and sanitation agencies would continue to provide potable water to the resettlement townships.

Ms Susana Mensah, Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, whose speech was read for her by Mr Ntow Bediako, District Chief Executive for Asougyaman, commended the Trust for supporting the community at the appropriate time.

She urged the teachers and students in the area to take advantage of the Information and Communication Technology centres in their community to improve upon their knowledge.

Mrs Liba Osei Ameyaw, Wife of the Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, who stood in for the husband, urged the students in the area to take their education seriously as well as to read widely. She donated 500,000 cedis and books for the school's library. 30 March 06