Yara (Brong Ahafo), 3 Mar. ’99 —
Mr Donald Adabre, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has advised beneficiary communities of projects provided by the government and other non-governmental organisations (NGO’s) to set up “special maintenance funds” that could be used for periodic repairs on such facilities. He said routine maintenance of the facilities would ensure their long-term use, and also help to inculcate the culture of maintenance among the people. Mr Adabre gave the advice when he jointly commissioned a 65 million cedis six classroomed block with the Canadian High Commissioner to Ghana, Miss Janet Graham, at Yara in the Kintampo district yesterday. He said the government remained committed to the rapid development of rural communities, which produce the bulk of the country’s wealth, and has therefore initiated a number of projects to open them up. The Regional Minister mentioned the youth in agriculture programme, the rural enterprise project and the poverty alleviation programme, all of which he said have been instituted to improve the well-being and productivity of rural communities. He appealed to the youth to take advantage of these programmes to enhance their standard of living and their contribution to the nation’s economic development. Mr Adabre commended the Canadian government, which provided materials worth 59 million cedis towards the construction of the school block, and urged it to continue to support the government in the provision of amenities to deprived areas in the country. Miss Graham said the Canadian High Commission was moved to assist the people of Yara to construct the school to save their children from the dangers of crossing flooded rivers to attend school in a neighbouring town. She urged parents to do everything within their means to send their children to school, as it would be an investment for the future growth and development of the community. Miss Graham announced that in recognition of their communal spirit and environmental consciousness, the High Commission would construct three boreholes at a total cost of 20 million cedis for the community.
