The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin-Salih, has promised heavy infrastructural investment that will see massive construction and rehabilitation of roads and completion of projects initiated by the previous administration to improve livelihoods.
He said his leadership would ensure the completion and operationalization of the Upper West Regional Hospital, which was stalled over the years and commencement of commercial flights at the new Regional Airport refurbished by the past government.
Dr. Bin-Salih made the pledge in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Upper West Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Gilbert Nuuri-Teg, during the 2018 Annual Review session held in Wa on the 11th April 2019.
According to him, 69 solar powered limited mechanized boreholes under the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives (SDI) were under construction in various communities across the 11 constituencies.
Dr. Bin-Salih said the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, was constructing a 10-seater water closet institutional toilet with mechanized boreholes across the Region to improve sanitation and water situations.
Under the Government’s One-Village One-Dam policy, the Minister said contracts for the construction of 110 No small dams and dug-outs have been awarded for construction nationwide with each of the regions receiving 10 dams. This he said, site was handed over to the contractors and construction works on-going.
He noted that, under the One-District, One-Warehouse program, 4 No. one thousand (1,000) metric tons capacity warehouse project were under construction at Bulenga, Busie, Han and Chariakpong while the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) was constructing 3 No. warehouses at Tumu, Funsi and Lambussie to supplement existing 4 No. warehouse and a park house for grains and vegetables storage at Sombo, Gwollu, Eremon and Yagha in the region
Dr Bin-Salih said the Regional Coordinating Council had received funding from the World Bank towards the cost of selected Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Projects in the region. These he said included civil works on the construction of Lambussie water supply system, rehabilitation and expansion of Hamile/ Happa water supply systems and establishment of 10 No. water systems five districts, namely Lawra, Jirapa, Nandom, Sissala West and Daffiama-Busie-Issah.
He noted that, the Nation Builders’ Corps had engaged 2,256 graduates in various modules while the National Youth Authority engaged 770 persons in 2018.
“A sanitation module would be implemented year and would engage 980 beneficiaries by end of April 2019 and an additional 800 by end of May 2019 in the region. New modules would also be rolled out in poultry production, shea butter processing and smock weaving” he added
These he said would create about 3000 additional jobs for the youth in the region.
Mr Salifu Issifu Kanton, the Executive Director of Community Development Alliance (CDA), appealed to MoFA and stakeholders to institute robust measures to curb the menace of fertilizer smuggling in the region.
He urged MOFA to ensure equitable distribution of fertilizers and other materials as well as extend it to all farmers regardless of their gender, religion or ethnicity.