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Oxfam, an international confederation of 17 organizations networked together in 92 countries, as part of a global movement for change to build a future free from injustice of poverty says that the Ghanaian government has shown good leadership in the management of the country’s oil resource. The West African regional director of Oxfam, Mr Mamadou Biteye made known when he interacted with the business chronicle and two other journalists in Accra, over the weekend.
He noted the exploration and petroleum bill (E&P)being passed by parliament would ensure that the West African country manages the oil resource judiciously for the benefits of all citizens in Ghana.
The open disclosure of oil contracts adopted by the government is the surest ways of transparency accountability and transparency in Ghanaian infant oil industry, Mr Biteye added.
Mr Biteye who is based in Senegal visited some Oxfam and partner projects in selected communities in northern Ghana as part of his working visit to Ghana.
The visit was to monitor the progress of the Oxfam and partner projects, share experiences and chart a way forward.
Mr Biteye disclosed that since 2005, Oxfam has been implementing three projects in Nalerigu in the West Mamprusi District of the Northern Region with another project implementation partner, Partners in Rural Empowerment and Development (PARED).
According to him, PARED with support from Oxfam is implementing three projects, namely: Integrated Livelihood Programme; the Food and Agriculture Recovery Management Project and the Enhanced Livelihood Conservation Agriculture Project.
Mr. Biteye said as a result of support from Oxfam through PARED, there has been increased in yields of farmers in the area.
He noted that Oxfam had made a significant impact in the area, adding that through the provision of bullocks, donkeys, and carts, which were used in land tilling and carting of goods from the farm to the marketing centres, yields increased at the end of the farming season.
Also, the farmers in the area used the dropping of these animals as manure for their farms, Mr Biteye indicated.
Another project success stories the West African Regional Director of Oxfam touted was the Farm Plus Project implemented by Oxfam in partnership with care international.
Mr. Biteye, told the journalists that the project was implemented following the 2007 floods which destroyed farm crops, lands irrigation dams and other area to dialogue with local authorities regarding best farming practices and other issues relating agriculture in that part of the country.
Mr. Biteye was quick to add that another intervention carried out by Oxfam and its partners including the Participatory Action for Rural Development Alternatives (PARDA) in selected communities in the Upper East Region has led to an increase in facility deliveries of babies under the supervision of skilled personnel and improved maternal care.
He stated that working in collaboration with PARDA, Oxfam started the maternal health care project in March, 2012.
According to him, the project is currently running on a second phase and will continue till March, 2013. Six communities in three districts of the region are implementing the project with the intention to complement the work of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to reduce maternal mortality.
The communities are Sapeliga and Tanga in the Bawku West District; Sumbrungu and Zuruangu in the Bolgatanga Municipality; and Naaga and Gia in the Kassena Nankana District.
Through the intervention, well established Traditional Births Attendants (TBAs) and Community Health Committees (CHCs) systems have been put in place and the personnel work effectively with officials at the various health centres to ensure long-term support in healthcare delivery.
The Chronicle