Ekumfi Edumafa (C/R), Nov. 25, GNA - Eight projects executed by World Vision (WV), an international Christian relief and development organisation at a total cost of 1.302 billion cedis in the Mfantseman District were jointly inaugurated at a ceremony at Ekumfi Edumafa. The beneficiary communities, Asokwa, Ekumpoano, Arkra, Narkwa, Edumafa and Ankaful contributed 149.9 million cedis as counterpart funding, which was mostly in the form of labour, sand and stones. The projects included school blocks, teachers' quarters, KVIP toilet, polytanks and distance education programme.
In an address, Mr Eugene Asante, World Vision Director of Programmes said out of 116 projects undertaken by the organisation in its Southern Sector Zone, which comprise Volta, Greater Accra, parts of Eastern, Central and Western regions. Twenty-eight of them representing 25 per cent were sited in the Central Region.
Mr. Asante said WV started the Mfantseman Area Development Programme (ADP) in 2001 to alleviate poverty and improve upon the socio-economic lives of the people in 30 communities in the District.
He appealed to communities in which they were operating to support the organisation in finding a lasting solutions to the seasonal migration of the people for fishing expedition elsewhere, a situation which he said retard education of the children, encouraged break in marriages and negatively affected general development of the communities.
Mr. Asante said WV had taken steps to arrest the situation through promotion and acquisition of alternative income generating activities such as bee-keeping, snail and grasscutter rearing, poultry farming, tie and dye making and others.
He commended the Mfantseman District Assembly, the Ministries of Education, Food and Agriculture and Ghana Health Service for their support without which WV could not have accomplished what it could now boast of.
Mr. Robert Quainoo-Arthur, the District Chief Executive said the Assembly has acquired a 15-acre plot of land at a cost of 50 million cedis for WV to be developed into a resource centre to serve as their district office.
Mr. Quainoo-Arthur said the Assembly was co-ordinating with other non-governmental organisations working in the District to avoid duplication of projects at one location at the detriment of others.
In an address read on his behalf, Mr. Isaac Edumadze, Central Regional Minister said the 1999 Ghana Living Standard Survey conducted by the Ghana Statistical Services placed the Region among the worst in terms of poverty level.
Mr. Edumadze said it was in this vein that greater recognition was being given to partnership support from private and non-governmental organisations.
He commended WV for the good work it had been doing in the Region and urged the users and beneficiaries of their facilities to maintain them to prolong their life span.
Miss Vivian Etroo, Assistant Director of Education in charge of Supervision at the Mfantseman District Directorate of Education enumerated a number of projects initiated by WV to promote teaching and learning in the District and urged parents to take advantage of them to send their children to school.
She commended the organisation for supporting the Access and Participation Objective of the Educational Reform Programme. Nana Amuah Sekyi II, Tufuhene of Edumafa expressed gratitude to the WV for their support and assured them that the facilities would be put to good use.
Professor F.K.A. Allotey, Director of Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and a citizen of the town advised scholars especially those from rural communities to be good role models for the children to encourage them to attach importance to education.
He advised parents to invest in the education of their children.
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