Two projects provided by French Embassy commissioned

Ekumfi Ekrawfo, June 22, GNA - A Nutrition and Reproductive Health Centre and a Gari Processing Centre, sponsored by the French Embassy, have been commissioned at Ekumfi Ekrawfo in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region. The French Embassy in Ghana provided GHC76,000 from its fund for Social Development while the beneficiaries provided labour towards construction.

Mr. Arnaud Dornon, Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs at the Embassy, said the projects were provided in support of the Ghana's Poverty Reduction Strategy. He said: "By providing the people the platform to consult nurses in their own community it will improve their welfare; and by giving them new tools and skills to process their cassava, it will increase their income. He appealed to the Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Health Service to make the projects sustainable. Dr. Kwabena Sarpong, Municipal Director of the GHS, said the directorate needed more of such projects to improve maternal and child health. He said six maternal deaths were recorded in the municipality in 2008.

He, therefore, cautioned against delivering of babies at home and urged them to make good use of the midwife who would be posted to the centre. Mr. George Kuntu Blankson, Member of Parliament for Mfantseman East, advised the people to put behind them the outcome of the 2008 general election and unite to build their communities. He pledged to provide the necessary support to make the projects viable.

The MP said efforts were being made for work to continue on the pineapple processing factory at Ekumfi Essuehyia which had been stalled for some time now. Mr. Henry Kweku Hayfron, Municipal Chief Executive, urged the people to embrace the cooperative concept to enable them to access funds and working tools for their projects. The MCE commended the French Embassy for the donation. 22 June 09