World Bank assesses progress in Upper West

World Bank vice-president visits Upper East

Sussie and Matt donate to Radiotherapy

Babile (Upper West) 15 Dec '99

Mr Jean Louis Sarbib, World Bank Vice- president for Africa, on Monday paid a day's visit to the Upper West region to assess the extent of its progress and to determine further possible assistance. The visit took him to Babile in the Lawra District and Bamahu near Wa.

He paid courtesy calls on Mr David Osei-Wusu, Upper West Regional Minister, and Naa Banamini Sandu, President of the Region's House of Chiefs.

At Babile, the World Bank Vice- President, who was taken round a pig breeding farm, commended the farmers for successfully carrying out the project.

He advised them to improve on the breeding techniques to earn more income to become self-reliant.

Mr. Sarbib promised to provide the transport and feeding needs of the station and urged them to take precautions against the occurrence of livestock diseases.

Mr. Osei Owusu, who signed a 4.6 million-dollar loan agreement with Mr Sarbib, urged the bank to consider assisting the region with transport to improve agriculture and health services.

Mr Benjamin Nenyorege, Animal Husbandry Officer at the Babile station, said the project, which started five year's ago with 26 pigs, has now over 200 pigs.

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Bolgatanga (Upper East ) 15 Dec. '99

Alhaji Amidu Sulemana, Upper East Regional Minister, has said the government's Non-Formal Education Programme is to help minimise the debilitating consequences of illiteracy in the rural communities.

The prevalence of ignorance and high illiteracy rates in those communities are responsible for the high incidence of diseases and poverty among the rural populace.

The project, which targets mainly illiterate adults, is to enable them to understand basic issues affecting their health.

Alhaji Sulemana was welcoming Mr Jean Louis Sarbibi, Vice-President of the World Bank responsible for Africa, who paid a courtesy call on him in Bolgatanga on Tuesday.

He said although the people of the region are hard working, "the Upper East is an endemic food deficit area, mainly as a result of unfavourable climatic conditions".

The region is also prone to natural disasters such as the recent floods and army worm outbreak.

Alhaji Sulemana said despite the nation's present economic difficulties, the government is doing its best to ensure that the people live in dignity.

He briefed the Vice-President on the government's decentralisation programme and said one major area of concern was the issue of capacity building at the District Assembly level to make the staff more competent.

Mr. Sarbibi praised the government for "taking the bull by the horn by this pragmatic approach" to seek solutions to the country's economic problems.

"What is encouraging is the level of involvement by the local communities in the development process; they are convinced it is the right thing to do and are willing to support the programmes."

He stated the preparedness of the World Bank to provide further assistance to Ghana to enable her to achieve economic prosperity.

Accompanying Mr. Sarbibi were Mr Ohene Owusu Nyanin, a Manager at the World Bank office in Washington, and Mr. Peter Harold, World Bank Country Director in Ghana.

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Accra (Greater Accra) 15 Dec. '99

A gospel singing duo, Suzy and Matt, on Tuesday donated a cheque for five million cedis to the Radiotherapy Centre, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, in Accra.

The donation, which will be an annual affair, is to support the treatment of cancer patients and help in the general running of the centre.

The money was generated from proceeds of a charity musical concert that they organised in Accra a few weeks ago.

Professor Augustine K. Kyere, National Project Co-ordinator, commended the singers for "supporting such a worthy cause", saying it would help patients and the centre a lot.

Prof. Kyere said; "what is being charged at the centre is a fraction of the real cost of cancer treatment.

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