BIA ASSEMBLY UNDERTAKES MORE DEV PROJECTS (PAGE 36, NOV 10, 2010)

THE Bia District Assembly has embarked on many development projects throughout the district to improve the living conditions of residents, who are predominantly cocoa farmers.
The projects, some of which started about three years ago, cover local government, education, health, sanitation, water, roads, as well as manpower development.
Some of them have been completed, while others are at various stages of completion.
They are being financed with money from the District Assemblies Common Fund, the District Development Fund, the Stool Lands Secretariat, HIPC funds, the Ghana Education Trust Fund and Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
The projects include the construction of a modern cocoa clinic at Sefwi Debiso, which is being funded by the COCOBOD.
The project, which was started in 2009, is 90 per cent completed and comprises a two-storey doctors’ quarters, an out-patient department and administration block, a labour ward, male and female wards and a laundry.
Others are the construction of the Bia District Hospital at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢131,311,030, which is about 80 per cent completed, the construction of a CHPS compound and an out-patient department at Akaatiso.
The assembly is putting up a central administration block and an assembly hall complex at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢901,293 and five-room chalets at Essam at a cost of GH¢79,966.
It has also completed the construction of area council office blocks at Elloukrom and Kaase at a cost of GH¢34,307.92 and GH¢49,643.20, respectively.
The assembly is constructing offices for decentralised departments at Essam at an estimated cost of GH¢51,878 and has also completed the provision of streets lights for the people of Essam, Debiso and Oseikojokrom at a cost of GH¢43,125.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Juaboso, Mr Solomon Fiakye, who is also acting as the DCE for Bia as a result of the death of the substantive DCE, made these known when the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, inspected some of the projects during a four-day working visit to the district.
Mr Fiakye said the assembly was also renovating the Oseikojokrom market at a cost of GH¢42,550 and constructing market sheds at Essam at a cost of GH¢36,000.
He said it was also constructing classroom blocks, offices and stores at Asemnyinakrom, Adjoafua, Essam, Debiso, Tigare, Elluokrom and Ntosue, adding that a slaughterhouse was under construction at Debiso, while a 12-seater aqua privy public place of convenience was being put up at Yawmatwa and a meat shop at Debiso.
The assembly is undertaking the construction of mechanised boreholes fitted with pumps at the assembly’s new residential area and office blocks at Essam and Debiso, as well as the supply of small town water and sanitation facilities for the people of Essam, Debiso, Adjoafua, Yawmatwa, Kofie Ponkor, Adabokrom, Oseikojokrom and GNTC.
According to Mr Aidoo, it was government policy for every district assembly to have a district hospital to ensure effective health delivery.
He stated that the new districts were lagging behind in the provision of health facilities, office and residential accommodation.