MiDA to facilitate Ghana’s agricultural transformation
Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA), said one of the key supports of the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), was the provision of community services to facilitate agricultural transformation.
He said this support covered the rehabilitation and construction of kindergarten and primary schools, provision of potable water, sanitary facilities and rural electrification to power rural infrastructure and cottage industries in 30 beneficiary districts.
Mr Eson-Benjamin made this known at the weekend when he inaugurated schools at Pakro near Nsawam in the Akuapim South Municipality, which were rehabilitated by MiDA.
He stated that under the MiDA’s community services activity, 35 schools have been rehabilitated in seven districts, including Pakro Presby Primary and Pakro Methodist Primary at a total cost of 2.2 million dollars.
He said in addition, 278 school blocks of various types, made up of six three-classroom blocks, 25 units of teachers’ accommodation, toilet/urinary facilities and nine Information, Communications and Technology centres, which were ancillaries to the school blocks were planned to be constructed in all 30 districts of the MCA Ghana programme.
To facilitate a very good learning environment, the Ahuntem Darmang Presby Primary, Nsaakye Presby Primary and Junior High School, Pokrom Nsaba Presby Primary, Pakro Methodist Primary and Pakro Presby Primary Schools have benefited from 648 dual desks, 37 teachers’ tables, 47 teachers chairs and 37 cupboards.
The CEO said the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has also agreed to address the unmet demand for qualified teachers in MiDA constructed schools.
To this end, the USAID has engaged the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help to identify unqualified individuals who are prepared to be trained to teach in MiDA schools.
He said the programme had been launched in Amankwakrom in the Kwahu North District.
Mr Eson-Benjamin advised the district assemblies, Parent-Teacher Associations and School Management Committees to endeavour to institute periodic and routine maintenance schemes to keep the buildings in good shape.
Dr Godfred Osei Bonsu Twum, Akuapim South Municipal Chief Executive commended the MiDA for the provision of development projects in the municipality and called on the people of Pakro to offer communal labour to facilitate the execution of the projects.
Mrs Stella Nanor, Akuapim South Municipal Education Director urged parents to send their children to school to enable them to benefit from the projects being implemented.
Mr Jim Bedna, a representative of the Millennium Challenge Corporation praised Ghana for her good relations with the US and gave the assured that more projects would be funded to improve the development agenda of the country.
Source: GNA