To improve the livelihood of households by providing sustainable income for women, poor people, and vulnerable people in rural communities, the Sissala East Municipal Assembly on Monday , 11th July, 2023 has handed over a site for the construction of an earth dam for the Bakwala community.

A total of two hundred and forty-seven (247) people from Bawkwala, Kong, and Kowie have been selected to participate in the construction of the dam and marked daily for Ghc15.

The project has been sponsored by the World Bank through its Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GPSNP) offers specialized assistance to Ghana’s poorest households to remove the demand-side barriers preventing them from accessing services that would increase their productivity.

Giving the scope of the project, Mr. Awal Ishawu, Planner of the assembly, told the gathering that, through a safety net, the assembly would implement a project that seeks to construct a dam in Bakwala that would benefit the community and its environs. He said, “We have selected Two Hundred and forty-seven people to undertake this project. At first, we used to use a book to mark people, but now we are going to use a tablet to mark each day of work”. He admonished the beneficiary to hasten their early reporting to work and also ensure they register their names on a daily basis for payment.

Kuoro Mahmoud Savei, Chief of Kong, remarked “The Bakwala community is lucky for the construction of an earth dam; a lot of communities in the Sissala area are clamoring for such opportunities. I plead on you all to ensure the positive success of the project and pave the way for other good projects from the Assembly”. He added “As a result of insufficient resources, the government has no longer unilaterally embarked on projects that are capital intensive alone but seeks the support of communities through self-help projects. The government would do its part, and the community also does”.

On the importance of the earth dam to his people, the revered chief noted “It will provide an opportunity for the industrious young people to engage in irrigational activities and as a source of drinking water for the animals.” He urged the women to overlook the little token given and work for the larger benefits to be driven from the dam when completed.

On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Fuseini Yakubu Batong, says the project has been awarded to Muzaji Company Limited after a thorough procurement process, which he ascribes as a reason for the long delay in the start of the project. He urged the workers to attach seriousness to the work while the Assembly coordinated with the donors on when they would break from the work. However, he said, “The little amount of money from the project could be used to buy soap, books, and other provisions for their children”.

Sissala Radio newsroom interacting with the beneficiary, they expressed happiness and joy for the project implementation, for, it will provide a source of income aside the farming and shea picking. One was captured saying ” We are satisfied that, today, the project will begin, we will work our heart out, to ensure the project is completed, for our animals to have drinking water whiles we also use it for our gardening”.

Source: Sissala Radio