Local Government Ministry present Vans to Assemblies

The Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development on Tuesday presented meat vans to the Tamale Metrpolitan and Ho Municipal assemblies in Accra.

The vans, which were procured under the Ghana Urban Management Pilot Project (GUMPP), would ensure safe and hygienic transportation of meat from modern abattoirs constructed and funded by the project in the two areas.

The GUMPP is a 40.5 million Euro project with a 0.5 million euro capacity building component intended to develop training modules to strengthen the capacity of staff at all levels in Urban Development Management with support from the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD).

It is implemented in the Tamale Metropolitan, Kumasi Metropolitan, Sekondi-Takoradi Metropitan and Ho Municipal assemblies.

The project seeks to increase investment in infrastructure and improve planning and revenue mobilisation of the cities to ensure financial autonomy.

The project component includes Priority Investment Projects (PIP) and support measures for Urban Management.

The goal is to ensure effective service delivery in the participating Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies which as part of their PIP are delivering key infrastructure including markets, light industrial parks, social centres and facilities to improve environmental sanitation namely landfill sites and public places of convenience.

Ms Amelie July, AFD Resident Manager, said the project would enhance the living conditions of the population of the beneficiary assemblies and strengthen urban management.

She said the project was part of a continuous support from France to the Ministry to enhance the decentralisation process, strengthen the capacity of MMDAs and make more investment resources available for the assemblies.

Presenting the keys to the Assemblies Mr Julius Debrah, the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, said the Ministry would seek the support of the AFD as the vision was to achieve sustainable and equitable economic growth.

He said, "this is to ensure accelerated service delivery at the local level within the various decentralisation environment.”

The Minister on behalf of the Government of Ghana and the Mnistry thanked AFD for the support and assured of government commitment to improving the lives and standards of living of the citizenry through local economic development.