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13.08.2004 General News

Government allocates 800 billion cedis to save Dixcove

13.08.2004 LISTEN
By GNA

Agona Nkwanta (W/R), Aug. 13, GNA - The Government has assigned 800 billion cedis for the construction of a sea defence wall to save Dixcove in the Ahanta West District from drowning.

Vice President Aliu Mahama, who announced this at a grand durbar held in his honour at Agona Nkwanta, said he had directed the Ministry of Works and Housing to expedite action on the award of the contract for the job.

On completion of the defence wall, he said, tourist facilities would be created to boost the socio-economic activities of Dixcove, which he described as "an ancient historic town".

The Vice President, who commissioned a one billion-cedi lorry park for the busy commercial town of Agona Nkwanta, assured the people of Wassa West that the Government would continue to provide infrastructure, health, education, water, power and other facilities to improve their standard of living.

About 17 billion cedis is being spent to upgrade the Baidoo Bonsoe Secondary School in line with the Government's policy to provide at least one model senior secondary school in each district to provide quality education.

Work is also progressing on the 13.7-kilometre Aboadze-Ayiem feeder road being financed with a 6.2 billion-cedi facility.

The Vice President inspected work on the renovation of the Children's Ward at the Dixcove Hospital valued at 148 million cedis and a newly constructed block of six classrooms with facilities worth 572 million cedis.

He attributed the fast pace of development in the area to the good leadership of the District Chief executive, Mr Kwesi Biney and the Member of Parliament, Mr Samuel Johnfiah.

He advised the people to seek strategic partners and invest in agricultural production and processing, especially rubber and oil palm plantation, saying the Government would support such ventures, which were non-taxable.

The Vice President said the government was considering the request of the chiefs of the Western Region to be represented on the board of the Ghana Rubber Estate Company and be paid royalties.

It is prudent for companies to be alive to their social responsibilities by investing in the communities in which they operate, he added.

Ahantahene Otumfuo Baidoo Bonsoe XV in an address read for him commended the Government for the numerous projects being executed in his area.

He, however, appealed to the Government to renovate the Agona-Cape Three Points, Princess-Junction-Aketekyi and Mile 32-Egyambra roads. Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, said the positive change agenda of the Government was a process and would manifest prominently in all areas as the years progressed.

Health Minister Dr Kwaku Afriyie appealed to people in the informal sector to endeavour to pay their contributions to the National Health Insurance Scheme to make it successful.

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