Involve communities in determining HIPC projects - Awuni

Sandema (U/E) Oct 30, GNA - Mr. Andrews Awuni, Deputy Minister of Information, has called on District Assemblies to involve people in determining projects for funding under from the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative fund.

"It would not be out of place for District Assemblies to talk to chiefs, opinion leaders and the local people in the process of deciding on which projects to use these funds to support," he said. Mr. Awuni was speaking at a meeting with the Builsa District Chief Executive, the Reverend James Agalik and District Directors on Wednesday at Sandema as part of a four-day official visit to the Upper East Region.

The Deputy Minister said District Assemblies should identify innovative ways to make development meaningful to the people. "People should be made to have a feel of decision-making, especially when it comes to deciding on projects that would have an impact on their lives, rather than being passive beneficiaries of development", he emphasized.

Mr. Awuni urged them to mobilise communities to undertake self-help projects instead being more interested in awarding contracts for financial gains.

He asked Assemblies to monitor the execution of projects since the government would not tolerate shoddy work.