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Middle Belt Development Authority (MBDA) General Manager Joe Danquah initiated various projects and inspected other ongoing projects in Jaman North and Wenchi Districts in Bono Region.
The health, education, markets, sanitation and sports projects are funded by the government’s “One District, One Million Dollars” initiative and led by MBDA.
The projects inaugurated in the district of Jaman North are; a six-unit classroom block and office for the Sampa Presbyterian Primary School at 425,500 GHC, the Asiri Health Center with three-bedroom apartments at 1,010,000 GHC and a 64-unit market shed in Goka at 427 000 GHC.
The others in the municipality of Wenchi are; a sanitary block of 16 places in Tromeso at 256,500 GHC, a class block of 6 units for the Methodist primary school of Amponsahkrom at 427,500 GHC, a class block of 3 units each for Abotereye DA JHS, Branam MA JHS , Nchiraa RC and Asoufri at 237,500 GHC each.
Joe Danquah, CEO of MBDA, explained to JoyNews that the Authority has engaged stakeholders, including assemblies and communities to benefit from the projects to ensure that they are not duplicated by other agencies in accordance with to the government’s development agenda.
“We have collected all the average development plans from assemblies, development agencies and have listened to opinion leaders, including chiefs and MPs, to determine what they need and ensure that projects also fit. in the national development agenda, ”he said.
He claimed that the Authority could have simply listed their projects, both completed and underway, and published them, but because of their criticism, they preferred an open inspection involving the media.
“We’ve been around, and the media saw what we did, and we expect the media to speak for us. Also, I think that as an Authority, we have not bragged about our achievements to the Ghanaian public, and people think that we have not achieved anything. But in all the ridings, we have projects. In the future, the strategy will be to show the media what we have done to tell the stories ”.
He also agreed that MBDA’s information dissemination is on the decline and that it will now engage the media more in reflecting their plans to the general population.
While urging stakeholders to take post-management issues seriously, he said it would serve the best interests if a proper maintenance culture is followed.
In Asiri, the nurse in charge, Nicholas AduAdjei, said that the old facility looks after more than 50 patients per day, but due to the unavailability of services, unlike the new one, they are not able to hold critical cases for further observation.
“We thank the government for the facility, which will help us provide appropriate health care to members of the farming community, especially pregnant women and those with malaria,” he said.
He also said the new facility includes three-bedroom apartments to ease staff accommodation issues.
“Staff members will now live in the facility and could be called in at night to help provide emergency services to patients,” he said.
Nicholas AduAdjei, however, asked for more beds to support the health center.
In Sampa, where a 6-unit classroom block was inaugurated, one student, Jennifer AkuaNyini, said she was now safe from the weed smokers who still spoil their old dilapidated classroom since the new block has all classrooms locked.
She also said that they now have an environment conducive to teaching and learning.
The principal, Gloria Sasah, thanked the Authority for coming to their aid and also requested furniture and electricity for the classroom to improve teaching and learning. They also demanded that schools be fenced to prevent intruders.
A resident of Tromeso in Wenchi municipality, KwasiAgyei, said the toilet is important to the community because it will improve their sanitation conditions.
MBDA CEO Joe Danquah also inspected ongoing projects including a CHPS complex in Ponkor in the northern district of Jaman, an astroturf in Faaman and a health center with a two-bedroom freestanding bungalow in Japekrom, all in the southern district of Jaman.
He said he was happy with the projects, but said recalcitrant contractors, who left project sites, would have their contracts revoked if they did not return within two weeks of serving them warning letters.
He added that the Authority would increase pressure on contractors on site to ensure projects are completed on time.
The Middle Belt Development Authority, created in 2017, exercises its mandate in 109 constituencies in five regions; Ashanti, Bono East, Ahafo, Bono and Eastern, and it is the main vehicle for leading the development of these regions under the Poverty Eradication Infrastructure Projects (IPEP).
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