We are grateful, but do more - Aliu tells Plan International

Accra, June 3, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Friday praised Plan International for its investments in child development activities but urged the non-governmental organisation to expand its scope for the benefit of other deprived communities.

He made the remarks when he received a delegation from the organisation led by its West African Regional Director, Mr John Chaloner, at the Castle, Osu.

With an annual average budget of four million dollars, the child-focus organisation provides educational, health, water and sanitation and micro-credit finance towards children's well being in the Eastern, Central and Upper West Regions.

This year, it plans to construct 13 dams in the Upper West Region in addition to its usual projects.

Vice President Mahama said: "We are so grateful for the clinics, schools, support to teachers, women and other areas all towards improving the quality of life of the Ghanaian child that we would like children from all other deprived areas to benefit as well." Mr Chaloner said Plan was pleased with the cooperation it received from Ghana and would, therefore, expand.

He said it was also content with the success rate of its micro-credit scheme for 7,000 women as the recovery rate was about 99 per cent.

Plan, said Mr Chaloner, was also committed to its programme to ensure that Ghanaian children were registered at birth, saying they deserved that right.

Mr Chaloner, with other executives, is in Ghana to attend Plan International's Board of Directors meetings, which ends on Saturday.