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24.04.2004 Regional News

Konongo-Dwease-Praaso road to be tarred

24.04.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Praaso (Ash), April 24, GNA- Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the Vice President, announced on Friday, that the government has voted five billion cedis to tar Konongo-Dwease-Prasso road in the Asante Akim North District.

The Vice President Aliu said this when he paid courtesy calls on the chiefs and elders of Praaso and Dwease in the district.

He was accompanied by Dr Kwaku Afriyie, the Health Minister, Mr Kwadwo Baah-Wiredu, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and President Special Initiative (PSI), Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development and Mr Boniface Saddique, Deputy Minister for Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City.

The Vice President noted that the completion of the road would open up the area and provide the needed impetus to the economic activities of the people.

Alhaji Mahama repeated the government's commitment to rural development, saying, it would continue to stay in constant touch with people in the rural communities, listen to their concerns and "find out if we are meeting your aspirations".

He stated that the Kufuor administration within its three years in office had done a "fantastic job@, adding, "everywhere we go people say thank you for the good work done".

The Vice President told the people to vote massively to renew the mandate of the government, come the December general elections.

"Party politics is just about welfare and development, there should therefore not be any reason for politicians to see ourselves as enemies.

We are competitors and for that matter should live in total peace and harmony with one another", he added.

Alhaji Mahama stressed the importance of education, pointing out that, education was key to the government's poverty reduction strategy.

Nana Kusiwaa Mansah, Queenmother of Praaso and Nana Owusu Banahene II, chief of Dwease, said the government's decision to tar the road, which is presently in bad state, was a big relief and joy to the people in the area.

Alhaji Mahama later inspected construction works on the Konongo-Anyinam portion of the Accra-Kumasi highway, which is being undertaken by Sonitra at a cost of 22.27 million dollars. Twenty-seven kilometres of the 89-kilometre stretch had now been completed.

Mr Kwaku Duafo, the Site Engineer, told the Vice President that due to complete structural changes done on the pavement to enable the road withstand the heavy-axle load, it would not be possible for the project to be completed as originally scheduled.

The road works commenced in October 2002 and was supposed to have been completed in October, this year.

The Vice President expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done by the contractors.

24 April 04

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