Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Akropong-Akuapem
THE Akuapem campus of the Presbyterian University College (PUC) has held its first matriculation to admit 68 students.
The students, made up of 43 males and 25 females, would be pursuing programmes in Rural and Community Development, Environmental and Natural Resources Management and Business Economics.
The ceremony was attended by a number of dignitaries, including Osahene Ofei Kwasi Agyeman, Krontihene of Akuapem, the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Adu Aboagye and top clergymen of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG).
Addressing the gathering, the Principal, Professor Kofi Sraku-Lartey, said the PUC, which was established in 2004 with campuses at Kwahu and Asante Akyem, had planned to set up a department of languages at the Akuapem campus to admit students for French, English and Akan programmes.
He said the aim of the university was to produce leaders with creative and innovative skills to meet the challenges of the country.
He expressed the PUC’s gratitude to the PCG, other organisations and individuals for their support to the university.
Osahene Offei Agyeman told the students that since tertiary education was gradually becoming the basic requirement in Ghana, they should take their studies seriously to come out successfully.
He appealed to traditional rulers and civil society to support the university, since it would bring a lot of benefits to the area.
The Chairman of the Akuapem Presbytery, Rt Rev J.O.Y. Mantey, said the Akuapem campus would not only produce professionals imbued with Christian principles but would also transform Akuapem to be “Ghana’s Oxford”.
He gave the assurance that the PCG would continue to support the university.
In a speech read on his behalf, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, said the Kufuor Administration, since taking office about seven years ago, had allocated huge sums of money to the educational sector, which has been reformed through a number of interventions such as the Capitation Grant and free meals at the basic level.
He said since the government alone could not meet the educational requirements of the country, it had empowered the private sector to be actively involved in that respect and praised the PCG for building a number of schools in the country.
Friday, January 4, 2008
Thursday, January 3, 2008
RALLY BEHIND AKUFO-ADDO ...Says Asamoah (Page 17)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Kade
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kade in the Eastern Region, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, has asked the rank and file of the party to solidly rally behind Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the party’s flag bearer, to enable the party to win this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said although Nana Akufo-Addo had all the qualities of a leader to be elected as president of Ghana, that would only be possible if he was accorded the necessary support.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah, who is also the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, made the call at an end-of-year get-together he organised for the rank and file of the NPP in the Kade Constituency at Kade on New Year’s eve.
He said the NPP had made significant gains in all sectors of the economy and needed a leader such as Nana Akufo-Addo to lead it to victory to enable an NPP Presidential candidate to take over from an NPP sitting President, adding that with Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP would emerge victorious to take over from President J.A. Kufuor.
He, therefore, asked the rank and file to unite and strategise for a resounding victory at the December polls.
“The NPP has made a significant breakthrough in all sectors; a drastic fall in the inflation making the cedi to be at par with the dollar, health insurance which is making it possible for the poor to access quality health care, Capitation Grant and School Feeding Programme that have increased enrolment at the basic level and numerous government initiatives which are improving the standard of living of the people,” Mr Ofosu Asamoah stated.
“The people have seen these initiatives and programmes and will definitely support the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo but there is the need for the rank and file of the party to put aside all their differences and strategise for a resounding victory in December,” Mr Ofosu Asamoah stated.
The Chief of Asuom, Nana Ofosuhene Appenteng also called for support for Nana Akufo-Addo and the party to win the December elections.
THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Kade in the Eastern Region, Mr Ofosu Asamoah, has asked the rank and file of the party to solidly rally behind Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the party’s flag bearer, to enable the party to win this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said although Nana Akufo-Addo had all the qualities of a leader to be elected as president of Ghana, that would only be possible if he was accorded the necessary support.
Mr Ofosu Asamoah, who is also the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, made the call at an end-of-year get-together he organised for the rank and file of the NPP in the Kade Constituency at Kade on New Year’s eve.
He said the NPP had made significant gains in all sectors of the economy and needed a leader such as Nana Akufo-Addo to lead it to victory to enable an NPP Presidential candidate to take over from an NPP sitting President, adding that with Nana Akufo-Addo, the NPP would emerge victorious to take over from President J.A. Kufuor.
He, therefore, asked the rank and file to unite and strategise for a resounding victory at the December polls.
“The NPP has made a significant breakthrough in all sectors; a drastic fall in the inflation making the cedi to be at par with the dollar, health insurance which is making it possible for the poor to access quality health care, Capitation Grant and School Feeding Programme that have increased enrolment at the basic level and numerous government initiatives which are improving the standard of living of the people,” Mr Ofosu Asamoah stated.
“The people have seen these initiatives and programmes and will definitely support the NPP and Nana Akufo-Addo but there is the need for the rank and file of the party to put aside all their differences and strategise for a resounding victory in December,” Mr Ofosu Asamoah stated.
The Chief of Asuom, Nana Ofosuhene Appenteng also called for support for Nana Akufo-Addo and the party to win the December elections.
ATIWA DISTRICT ADJUDGED THE BEST (Page 38)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Kwabeng
THE Atiwa District of the Eastern Region has been adjudged the best in the implementation and execution of European Union (EU) funded projects in the region.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Kwasi Osei Agyepong, made this known at the assembly’s meeting at Kwabeng at the weekend
He said the judicious manner in which GH¢74,556.58 given out by the EU for the construction of a number of social amenities was utilised had won the confidence of the donors and expressed the hope that the EU would provide additional funding for other social amenities in the area.
That, he said, would further improve the living standards of the people in the area.
“We received GH¢74,556.58 from the EU to construct schools, a warehouse and modern places of convenience at Akropong, Adasawase, Mampong, Kwabeng, Enyiresi and Kadewase and I am happy to inform you that the judicious manner in which the fund is being used for the implementation of the projects has placed the district first among the 17 districts in that respect in this year’s assessment,” he said.
He, therefore, called for support from the assembly members for the speedy execution of projects in their electoral areas to justify funding for more projects.
With regard to the district’s health insurance scheme, he stated that so far 44,575 people, constituting 46 per cent of the district’s population, had registered, out of which 98 per cent were accessing health care.
The DCE, who also stated that the Ghana AIDS Commission had released GH¢8,000 to the assembly to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, indicated that centres for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) had been set up at Kwabeng, the district capital, and four other towns in the area and appealed to the people to go for testing to know their health status.
On revenue generation, Mr Agyepong stated that the assembly collected GH¢967,994.22 in 2007, as against a projected figure of GH¢972,541.17, while GH¢468,934.00 was received as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
On education, he said with the introduction of the Capitation Grant, enrolment in basic schools had soared but the performance of pupils in the BECE had been poor. He attributed the poor performance to a number of factors, including the inability of parents to control their children, most of whom attended video shows and other social activities in the night, at the expense of their studies.
In view of that, Mr Agyepong said the assembly had passed a bye-law banning children from video centres and other social gatherings in the night.
On agriculture, he said the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, had assisted 125 farmers in the area, while tree and oil palm nurseries had been established at Bomaa to manage degraded lands in the Atiwa Forest Range.
The assembly, he said, was also taking steps to develop the area’s tourism potential.
Earlier, the Presiding Member, Mr Akwasi Amoako Attah, had expressed his displeasure at the payment of mobilisation funds to contractors, which exceeded the stipulated 15 per cent of the contract sum, and the lackadaisical attitude of staff of the assembly, warning them that anybody who would not perform to expectation would be severely dealt with.
THE Atiwa District of the Eastern Region has been adjudged the best in the implementation and execution of European Union (EU) funded projects in the region.
The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Kwasi Osei Agyepong, made this known at the assembly’s meeting at Kwabeng at the weekend
He said the judicious manner in which GH¢74,556.58 given out by the EU for the construction of a number of social amenities was utilised had won the confidence of the donors and expressed the hope that the EU would provide additional funding for other social amenities in the area.
That, he said, would further improve the living standards of the people in the area.
“We received GH¢74,556.58 from the EU to construct schools, a warehouse and modern places of convenience at Akropong, Adasawase, Mampong, Kwabeng, Enyiresi and Kadewase and I am happy to inform you that the judicious manner in which the fund is being used for the implementation of the projects has placed the district first among the 17 districts in that respect in this year’s assessment,” he said.
He, therefore, called for support from the assembly members for the speedy execution of projects in their electoral areas to justify funding for more projects.
With regard to the district’s health insurance scheme, he stated that so far 44,575 people, constituting 46 per cent of the district’s population, had registered, out of which 98 per cent were accessing health care.
The DCE, who also stated that the Ghana AIDS Commission had released GH¢8,000 to the assembly to help curb the spread of HIV/AIDS, indicated that centres for voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) had been set up at Kwabeng, the district capital, and four other towns in the area and appealed to the people to go for testing to know their health status.
On revenue generation, Mr Agyepong stated that the assembly collected GH¢967,994.22 in 2007, as against a projected figure of GH¢972,541.17, while GH¢468,934.00 was received as its share of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
On education, he said with the introduction of the Capitation Grant, enrolment in basic schools had soared but the performance of pupils in the BECE had been poor. He attributed the poor performance to a number of factors, including the inability of parents to control their children, most of whom attended video shows and other social activities in the night, at the expense of their studies.
In view of that, Mr Agyepong said the assembly had passed a bye-law banning children from video centres and other social gatherings in the night.
On agriculture, he said the government, through the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, had assisted 125 farmers in the area, while tree and oil palm nurseries had been established at Bomaa to manage degraded lands in the Atiwa Forest Range.
The assembly, he said, was also taking steps to develop the area’s tourism potential.
Earlier, the Presiding Member, Mr Akwasi Amoako Attah, had expressed his displeasure at the payment of mobilisation funds to contractors, which exceeded the stipulated 15 per cent of the contract sum, and the lackadaisical attitude of staff of the assembly, warning them that anybody who would not perform to expectation would be severely dealt with.
KWABENG COURT TO START SITTING (Page 44)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Kwabeng
THE Kwabeng Magistrate Court in the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region which ceased functioning about 30 years ago will start sitting from this month.
Also, a new building will be constructed at nearby Anyinam to replace the old and dilapidated court building there.
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Theodora Georgina Wood, made these known when she visited the area yesterday.
The Chief Justice, who was accompanied by Mr Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, a Supreme Court judge, was in the area for first-hand information on the dilapidated court building and to see how best to address the infrastructural problems of the judiciary in the area.
She said the decision to resume court sittings at Kwabeng and put up a new court building at Anyinam was to bring justice to the doorstep of the people and also help speed up the adjudication of cases in the area.
The Chief Justice stated that steps were being taken for people in every part of the country to have access to justice, adding that a number of judges and magistrates would soon be posted to courts which were without substantive judges.
She urged the people to use the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to deal with minor cases to allow the courts to deal with the more serious ones.
She called on the staff of the Judicial Service to be diligent, punctual and eschew negative tendencies that would bring the service into disrepute.
She also appealed to parents to send their children, especially girls, to school so that they could grow up as responsible citizens.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atiwa, Mr Kwasi Osei Agyepong, gave the assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the Judicial Service to put up structures that would facilitate the work of the judiciary in the area.
He commended the Chief Justice for achieving such an enviable position by dint of hard work, selflessness and commitment.
The Chief of Abekoase, Barima Akroma Acheampong, who chaired the meeting, expressed the people’s gratitude to the Chief Justice for personally going to the area to help address the problems facing the delivery of justice there.
THE Kwabeng Magistrate Court in the Atiwa District in the Eastern Region which ceased functioning about 30 years ago will start sitting from this month.
Also, a new building will be constructed at nearby Anyinam to replace the old and dilapidated court building there.
The Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Theodora Georgina Wood, made these known when she visited the area yesterday.
The Chief Justice, who was accompanied by Mr Justice Stephen Allan Brobbey, a Supreme Court judge, was in the area for first-hand information on the dilapidated court building and to see how best to address the infrastructural problems of the judiciary in the area.
She said the decision to resume court sittings at Kwabeng and put up a new court building at Anyinam was to bring justice to the doorstep of the people and also help speed up the adjudication of cases in the area.
The Chief Justice stated that steps were being taken for people in every part of the country to have access to justice, adding that a number of judges and magistrates would soon be posted to courts which were without substantive judges.
She urged the people to use the Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) process to deal with minor cases to allow the courts to deal with the more serious ones.
She called on the staff of the Judicial Service to be diligent, punctual and eschew negative tendencies that would bring the service into disrepute.
She also appealed to parents to send their children, especially girls, to school so that they could grow up as responsible citizens.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Atiwa, Mr Kwasi Osei Agyepong, gave the assurance that the assembly would collaborate with the Judicial Service to put up structures that would facilitate the work of the judiciary in the area.
He commended the Chief Justice for achieving such an enviable position by dint of hard work, selflessness and commitment.
The Chief of Abekoase, Barima Akroma Acheampong, who chaired the meeting, expressed the people’s gratitude to the Chief Justice for personally going to the area to help address the problems facing the delivery of justice there.
YEBOAH WINS TAFO OPE N GOLF (Page 47)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Tafo
A 22-YEAR-OLD man, Kofi Yeboah from the Tafo Golf Club, last Saturday put up a spectacular performance to win the 2007 Unique Trust Financial Services-sponsored Tafo Open championship when he beat 62 golfers drawn from various golf clubs in the country.
The triumphant Yeboah initially tied with Osei Kobina from the Royal Gulf Club, Kumasi, who came second. They both had 140 points apiece but Yeboah carried the day after the sudden death rule was applied.
Sai Godwin from the Achimota Golf Club came third with 141 points on count back while Amalie Ernest of the Tafo Golf Club took the fourth position with 141 points.
In the handicap division, Samuel Franklin Essuman from Takoradi scored 139 net on countback to take the trophy, while Felix Quarshie from Tafo had 139 net for the second position, leaving E.T. Mensah from Tema who had a net of 140 to take the third position.
The ladies scratch division registered an upset when little known Mishida Mensah from the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, scored 170 to take the ultimate prize.
She beat Grace Afriyie of Tema who had 178 gross, countback, to take the second position, and veteran and reigning champion, Mona Captan of Achimota, who scored 178 gross on countback to take the third place.
In the ladies handicap division, Felicity Gyeabour from the Royal Golf Club came first with 153 net, followed by Florence Etwi-Barimah from Tema who scored 156 to take the second position, while Betty Richard of Royal Golf Club registered 161 net for the third position.
The Chief Executive Officer of Unique Trust Financial Services, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, donated GH¢ 5,000 (¢50 million) for the promotion of golf and urged people to take interest in it.
He congratulated all those who took part in the competition.
A 22-YEAR-OLD man, Kofi Yeboah from the Tafo Golf Club, last Saturday put up a spectacular performance to win the 2007 Unique Trust Financial Services-sponsored Tafo Open championship when he beat 62 golfers drawn from various golf clubs in the country.
The triumphant Yeboah initially tied with Osei Kobina from the Royal Gulf Club, Kumasi, who came second. They both had 140 points apiece but Yeboah carried the day after the sudden death rule was applied.
Sai Godwin from the Achimota Golf Club came third with 141 points on count back while Amalie Ernest of the Tafo Golf Club took the fourth position with 141 points.
In the handicap division, Samuel Franklin Essuman from Takoradi scored 139 net on countback to take the trophy, while Felix Quarshie from Tafo had 139 net for the second position, leaving E.T. Mensah from Tema who had a net of 140 to take the third position.
The ladies scratch division registered an upset when little known Mishida Mensah from the Royal Golf Club, Kumasi, scored 170 to take the ultimate prize.
She beat Grace Afriyie of Tema who had 178 gross, countback, to take the second position, and veteran and reigning champion, Mona Captan of Achimota, who scored 178 gross on countback to take the third place.
In the ladies handicap division, Felicity Gyeabour from the Royal Golf Club came first with 153 net, followed by Florence Etwi-Barimah from Tema who scored 156 to take the second position, while Betty Richard of Royal Golf Club registered 161 net for the third position.
The Chief Executive Officer of Unique Trust Financial Services, Prince Kofi Amoabeng, donated GH¢ 5,000 (¢50 million) for the promotion of golf and urged people to take interest in it.
He congratulated all those who took part in the competition.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
'LEADERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE CIRCUMSPECT' (Page 13)
From A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Adukrom
THE Okeremanhene, Osudumgya Otutu Kono II, has made a passionate appeal to leaders of political parties to be circumspect in their electioneering campaign in order to sustain the prevailing peace in the country.
This, he said, would help remove all doubts about whichever party wins next year’s general election to make the results acceptable by all.
Nana Otutu Kono, who is also the chief of Adukrom, made the appeal when he addressed a colourful durbar at Adukrom on Saturday to celebrate the Odwira Festival of the chiefs and people of Okere.
The event, with the theme “Ghana @ 50: Ensuring Quality Education and Development in Adukrom, was attended by all the chiefs of Okere and dignitaries including the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Asiedu Afram, the MP for Okere, Mr B.D.K. Adu, and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye.
According to the Okeremanhene, now that some of the political parties had elected their flag bearers, it was the responsibility of the flag bearers to be circumspect in their electioneering campaigns and deliberations in order not to offend others so that the country would continue to enjoy the prevailing peace.
“Most of the political parties have elected their flagbearers and the electioneering campaign will soon start so it will be in the interest of the country for the political leaders to go about their electioneering campaigns in a civilised manner to make the results of the elections acceptable by all.”
Osumdugya Otutu Kono, who praised the government for providing a number of infrastructural amenities in the area such as schools, however called for more of such facilities such as street lights for Adukrom, boreholes for the villages, setting up of a court and the upgrading of the Nifa Senior High School to a model school.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, said the government was committed to human resource development of the the country and that was why it had focused on quality education with the provision of infrastructure, furniture and books and the introduction of special initiatives such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme and asked parents to take advantage of such initiatives to enrol their children in school.
He also said the government was promoting private sector development to accelerate socio-economic development and called on community leaders and the district assembly to mobilise resources to develop the Aasenema Waterfall and other tourist attractions in the area to attract tourists.
The Regional Minister, who told the gathering that his outfit would see how best to address the problems in the area, also gave the assurance that steps were being taken to resolve the boundary dispute between Okereman and Yilo Krobo.
Mr Joe Ghartey, who was the guest speaker, gave detailed account of the successes so far chalked up by the government, which, according to him, included drastic fall in inflation which had given value to the cedi, and deepened democracy that had raised the image of the country on the international scene and called for support for the government to enable it to continue with its good works.
Earlier, Mr B.D.K. Adu had helped provide a number of social amenities in the area and paid the health insurance premium for 1,500 old people in the area said he had set up an education fund with seed money of GH¢3,000 to cater for the educational needs of students of poor parentage.
THE Okeremanhene, Osudumgya Otutu Kono II, has made a passionate appeal to leaders of political parties to be circumspect in their electioneering campaign in order to sustain the prevailing peace in the country.
This, he said, would help remove all doubts about whichever party wins next year’s general election to make the results acceptable by all.
Nana Otutu Kono, who is also the chief of Adukrom, made the appeal when he addressed a colourful durbar at Adukrom on Saturday to celebrate the Odwira Festival of the chiefs and people of Okere.
The event, with the theme “Ghana @ 50: Ensuring Quality Education and Development in Adukrom, was attended by all the chiefs of Okere and dignitaries including the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Joe Ghartey, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Freddie Blay, the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Asiedu Afram, the MP for Okere, Mr B.D.K. Adu, and the District Chief Executive for Akuapem North, Mr Edward Adu Aboagye.
According to the Okeremanhene, now that some of the political parties had elected their flag bearers, it was the responsibility of the flag bearers to be circumspect in their electioneering campaigns and deliberations in order not to offend others so that the country would continue to enjoy the prevailing peace.
“Most of the political parties have elected their flagbearers and the electioneering campaign will soon start so it will be in the interest of the country for the political leaders to go about their electioneering campaigns in a civilised manner to make the results of the elections acceptable by all.”
Osumdugya Otutu Kono, who praised the government for providing a number of infrastructural amenities in the area such as schools, however called for more of such facilities such as street lights for Adukrom, boreholes for the villages, setting up of a court and the upgrading of the Nifa Senior High School to a model school.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, said the government was committed to human resource development of the the country and that was why it had focused on quality education with the provision of infrastructure, furniture and books and the introduction of special initiatives such as the Capitation Grant and the School Feeding Programme and asked parents to take advantage of such initiatives to enrol their children in school.
He also said the government was promoting private sector development to accelerate socio-economic development and called on community leaders and the district assembly to mobilise resources to develop the Aasenema Waterfall and other tourist attractions in the area to attract tourists.
The Regional Minister, who told the gathering that his outfit would see how best to address the problems in the area, also gave the assurance that steps were being taken to resolve the boundary dispute between Okereman and Yilo Krobo.
Mr Joe Ghartey, who was the guest speaker, gave detailed account of the successes so far chalked up by the government, which, according to him, included drastic fall in inflation which had given value to the cedi, and deepened democracy that had raised the image of the country on the international scene and called for support for the government to enable it to continue with its good works.
Earlier, Mr B.D.K. Adu had helped provide a number of social amenities in the area and paid the health insurance premium for 1,500 old people in the area said he had set up an education fund with seed money of GH¢3,000 to cater for the educational needs of students of poor parentage.
GOVT 'LL DEVELOP KWAHU NORTH ROADS (Back Page)
Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Donkorkrom
THE Minister of State in charge of Transportation, Mr Godfrey Bayon, has assured people in the Kwahu North District (formerly Afram Plains) that the government would not relent in the district’s road rehabilitation programme to improve transportation in the area.
This, he said, would not only make it possible for farmers in the area to market their produce but would open up the place for both local and foreign investors.
Mr Bayon gave the assurance when he inspected work on a number of roads being rehabilitated or constructed in the district.
Some of the roads were the ¢7.7 billion Ekye Amanfrom-Amankwakrom Road being funded by the Road Fund, the ¢3.5 billion Tease-Anlo Faase Adrom road, the ¢2.7 billion Abotanso-Kofiyina-Apesika road and the Kwamepong Nkwanta-Mamekrobo road, all being funded by the European Union through the Government of Ghana initiative.
“We cannot sit down while roads in such an important agricultural area deteriorate and the people suffer and this is why we are rehabilitating them to improve their living standards,” Mr Bayon stated.
At Donkorkrom, the district capital, the minister was happy about the work on the streets, which were being tarred for the first time, and expressed the hope that completion of work would uplift the image of the town.
Mr Bayon expressed the government’s gratitude to the European Union for its assistance for the projects.
The Eastern Regional Engineer of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr Bernard Badu, who conducted the minister round the various projects, said the district had 588 kilometres of roads out of which 57.7 kilometres, constituting 10 per cent had been tarred, adding that those not tarred were periodically rehabilitated at least twice a year to make them motorable at all times.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Solomon Fordjour, said considering the rate at which construction works were going on, the district would soon have most of its roads in good shape.
THE Minister of State in charge of Transportation, Mr Godfrey Bayon, has assured people in the Kwahu North District (formerly Afram Plains) that the government would not relent in the district’s road rehabilitation programme to improve transportation in the area.
This, he said, would not only make it possible for farmers in the area to market their produce but would open up the place for both local and foreign investors.
Mr Bayon gave the assurance when he inspected work on a number of roads being rehabilitated or constructed in the district.
Some of the roads were the ¢7.7 billion Ekye Amanfrom-Amankwakrom Road being funded by the Road Fund, the ¢3.5 billion Tease-Anlo Faase Adrom road, the ¢2.7 billion Abotanso-Kofiyina-Apesika road and the Kwamepong Nkwanta-Mamekrobo road, all being funded by the European Union through the Government of Ghana initiative.
“We cannot sit down while roads in such an important agricultural area deteriorate and the people suffer and this is why we are rehabilitating them to improve their living standards,” Mr Bayon stated.
At Donkorkrom, the district capital, the minister was happy about the work on the streets, which were being tarred for the first time, and expressed the hope that completion of work would uplift the image of the town.
Mr Bayon expressed the government’s gratitude to the European Union for its assistance for the projects.
The Eastern Regional Engineer of the Ghana Highway Authority, Mr Bernard Badu, who conducted the minister round the various projects, said the district had 588 kilometres of roads out of which 57.7 kilometres, constituting 10 per cent had been tarred, adding that those not tarred were periodically rehabilitated at least twice a year to make them motorable at all times.
The District Chief Executive for the area, Mr Solomon Fordjour, said considering the rate at which construction works were going on, the district would soon have most of its roads in good shape.
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