By: Kingsley Mamore | Voltaonlinegh |
The Ghana’s Strengthening Accountability Mechanism (GSAM), a project expected to strengthen accountability at both district and community levels across the country has organised an interface meeting between citizens of Okanease in the Krachi East Municipality and the municipal assembly.
The meeting was to discuss citizens’ concerns regarding the construction of CHPS compound with 3-unit Nurses’ Quarters in the community. The Gh¢467,941.50 project being funded by the District Development Fund (DDF) is expected to be completed soon and handed over by the contractor, Raphael Kudjo Kpogli for use.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) sponsored GSAM being implemented in 100 districts across Ghana seeks to sensitize citizens to exercise oversight responsibilities in capital development projects to improve local government accountability and performance.
It is being implemented by OXFAM, CARE, ISODEC with over 25 civil society organisations including Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA) and the Ghana Audit Service.
The Executive Director for GLOWA, Nana Bakateyi II and the Zonal Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Samuel Boateng were among dignitaries at the interface meeting and inspected the project.
The community members who spoke to the reporter said the project even at its current stage could address their needs.
According to them, the CHIPS compound would help arrest loss of lives occasioned by people having to travel long distances to access health care and called on the contractor to speed up with the project to make health care delivery accessible to them.
Meanwhile, the people of Okanease and its surrounding communities including Dormabin, Adumadum and Asukawkaw complained bitterly of poor road network in their area.
A resident, George Gameli speaking on behalf of the people, said countless efforts had been made over the past years to fix the road but to no avail and asked that politicians deliver on their numerous promises regarding the road.
Mr. Gameli indicated that the bad state of the road had contributed to two major problems, increased lorry fares and reluctance of drivers to ply the road, thus affecting the socio-economic activities of people there.
According to him, their Member of Parliament who doubles as Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Michael Yaw Gyato had some time ago, cut sod for construction of the road but there had since been no sign regarding when work would start.
In reaction, Municipal Coordinating Director, Dzorgbenyui Banini promised to work with the municipal engineers to reshape the road and correct minor defects on the CHIPS compound within three months.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com