Ghana Districts: A repository of all Local Assemblies in Ghana

SOCIAL

Talensi-Nabdan Assembly and Peal Deng implement component of GSOP

The Talensi-Nabdam District in the Upper East Region in collaboration with Peal Deng, a Community Based Organization(CBO), is implementing a component of the Ghana Social Opportunity Project (GSOP), which has targeted the planting of over 1,500 tress around a dam in the area to protect it.

Date Created : 2/23/2012 12:00:00 AM : Story Author : GNA

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at the dam site during the planting of the trees on Wednesday, the Chairman of Peal Deng, Mr. Alphones Daniel Kennedy Bangrey explained that his outfit got support from the Rotary Club of the United States, to construct the dam in 2004 for human and animal use.

He indicated that as time went on, the dam was becoming silted because some parts were washed away and that prompted his outfit to collaborate with the District Assembly to plant trees around it and to subsequently de-silt it with support from the Assembly.

Mr. Bangrey expressed optimism that when the project was completed it would help harvest much rainwater that usually go waste during the rainy season for dry season farming as well as source of water for animals and domestic use.

“The trees will serve as conservation barriers, prevent water evaporation as well as protect the dam from being washed away”, he stressed.

He stated that the Dam would also help generate employment for the people in the area, especially the teaming youth who were idling without jobs.

“It will also help curb the spate of rural urban drift among the people in the area particularly the youth so that they can stay back and take good care of the aged”, he said.

The District Planning Officer of the Talensi-Nabdam Distinct, Mr Mukassa Zoogah indicated that the GSOP had 12 components to be implemented in the District.

The GSOP is a Social Intervention Programme being implemented by government aimed at curbing desertification and improving the environment as well as putting money into the pockets of community members who are recruited to do the job.

“The over 500 people drawn from parts of the District whose activities are being monitored by Peal Deng, are paid under the GSOP and that applies to the other remaining components which are five years projects”, he stressed.

According to the Planning Officer, some components including road construction and clinics robed under the GSOP were still ongoing.

Most of the workers, who were engaged in the tree planting exercise, expressed joy with the implementation and said apart from the benefit that could be accrued from planting the trees and protecting the dam in future, they were also currently paid for planting the trees.

Mr Jong Kurug one of the workers said he had planned to buy animals from the money paid to him through the GSOP to rear and to support his children’s education and upkeep of the family.