Information Services Department educates citizens on 2013 Budget
The Brong-Ahafo Regional Directorate of the Information Services Department (ISD) has embarked on public education campaign on the 2013 Budget Statement and Economic Policy in the Brong Ahafo Region.
It was to disseminate, educate, sensitize and explain the content of the budget to the residents in the Region, and illicit public response and submit feedback to the Government.
A statement issued in Sunyani and copied to the Ghana News Agency by Mr. Akwasi Amankwaa, Brong-Ahafo Regional Information Officer, said 16 FM stations and four cinema vans were used.
It said the panel members for the talk show were the Regional Information Officer (RIO), Municipal and District Information Officers, Budget Officers and some Members of Parliament and the medium of communication was Vernacular and English.
The districts were Tano North, Tano South, Kintampo North and Sene.
The in-depth discussion centered on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, Ministry of Roads and Highways, Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health.
Under the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), topics deliberated upon included Agricultural Mechanization Service Centres (AMSECs), Livestock Demonstration Centres, Hi-Tech Programme on Cocoa, Youth in Agriculture Programme and Fertilizer Subsidy.
Efforts by the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum to stop erratic supply of electricity on the country were deliberated upon. Already 133mw had been brought on stream after the inauguration of the first phase of the Bui Hydro-electric Power Project.
The people were made aware that the Bui Hydro-Electric Power would come on line with a full capacity of 400mw by December, 2013.
They were also informed about the government’s intention to connect 464 outstanding communities under the Self-Help Electricity Programme (SHEP) in all the 10 Regions.
Projects outlined for construction, upgrading and completion under the Ministry of Roads and Highways were Takoradi Port, Sekondi/Takoradi via Kojo-Asoprochona and Accra-Nsawam railway lines.
Projects identified in the Brong Ahafo Region in the Budget were highlighted to include the Berekum-Sampa road and improvement in the road network in the regional and districts capitals.
Under the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, it was made known to the people that under the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project (SRWSP), 1,200 new boreholes, 400 old boreholes and 40 limited mechanized water facilities would be developed.
Others are the construction of storm water and drainage system at Goaso in the Region, 17 houses for cocoa farmers and under the Peri-Urban Project, there would be test run for 15 small towns` piped systems whilst the Rural and Small Towns Water and Sanitation Project would fix 550 boreholes with hand pumps in the Region.
Other projects identified in the sector were Abesim and Tanoso dams’ rehabilitation.
Projects, programmes and activities under the Ministry of Education include the provision of free uniforms for pupils, Capitation Grant, distribution of free exercise books to about 5.7 million basic schools pupils and sustenance of School Feeding Programme.
Other projects are construction of teacher’s accommodation, classroom blocks and toilet facilities as well as elimination of schools under trees.
The rest are construction of 50 communities based and 10 colleges would be completed.
Under the Ministry of Health, the main projects outlined are the upgrading of some regional hospitals including the Brong Ahafo Region.
Source: GNA