People in Bolgatanga call for Repairs of dams

Bolgatanga, Jan 26, GNA - Participants at the People's Assembly organized by the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly on Wednesday appealed to the government to desilt the Vea and Tono irrigation dams and to repair their canals.

They said the exodus of the youth from the region to search for non-existing jobs in the south would be stopped if the two irrigation dams were renovated.

The two main dams in the Upper East Region, located near Bolgatanga and Navrongo, provide water for dry season farming.

The people also appealed to the government to hasten the revamping of the Pwalugu tomato and the Zuarungu meat factories in the region to generate employment for the people of the area.

Reacting the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Kwadjo Afram Asiedu, and the Regional Minister, Mr. Boniface Gambila, assured the people that funds had been secured for the two irrigation dams, the Pwalugu tomato and the Zuarungu meat factories and that work had already started at the Pwalugu tomato factory to reshape it.

Mr. Isaac Nsoh Amoah, the Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly, out of its target of 1.5 billion cedis, was able to mobilize 1.1 billion cedis, representing 72 per cent.

The assembly is also sponsoring 200 persons in teacher training and nursing training schools as well as 150 disabled students. Mr. Amoah said the assembly, through the Municipal Directorate of Agriculture, had been assisting farmers in the region with funds and technical services.

He said the assembly had so far registered 1,550 people under the National Youth Employment Programme. 26 Jan 07