Volta Chiefs Honor Kufuor

Daily Guide -- THE CHIEFS and people of Tongor, in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region, have named the round-about on the Tongor-Dzemeni road after President John Agyekum Kufuor, for constructing the road for them.

“We, the people of this traditional area, are most thankful to the government for tarring the Tongor-Dzemeni road for us. In fact, we were overwhelmed when His Excellency, President John Agyekum Kufuor, endorsed the tarring of the most economically, viable road in the Volta Region”, Robert Fiado Korve, spokesman for trhe community stated, during the commissioning of the 5km road, by the Minister of Road Transport, Dr. Richard Anane.

The minister who just completed a three-day official visit to the Volta Region, during which he inspected on-going road projects, in the region, was accompanied by the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, and senior officials of the ministry.

The minister's entourage included, Mr. Oduro Konadu, Chief Executive of Ghana Highway Authority (GHA), Mr. Ludwig Hesse, Deputy Director, Department of Urban Roads, Mr. Martin Mensah, Director of Feeder Roads, Mr. Kwasi Boakye Darfour, GHA Regional Director, Mr. E. Boakye, Director of Planning, and Mr. Ellis Hugh-Tamakloe, Deputy Director of Planning.

According to Robert Korve, who is also the assembly member for Tongor Tsanakpe Electoral Area, the Toh Kpalime-Dzemeni road had suffered a longtime neglect, leading to its deplorable state.

“All efforts to put it in good shape, only proved futile, and remained on the drawing board for quite a long time. It is upon this plight that the government of the day, responded quickly, which saw us to be highly elated this morning” he emphasised.

The community also, appealed to the government to extend the road construction to the Tongor township, and the surrounding communities. He mentioned roads, as Toh-Todome, Tsanakope-Agordeke, Tsanakpe-Attokrokpo and Dzemeni-Adzebui roads, which needed due attention.

These roads, Mr. Korve explained, are economically viable in the newly created South Dayi District, and therefore, needed urgent attention.

The community also, demanded a fishing harbour at Dzemeni, to boost economic activities in the area, while also, calling on the government to staff the clinic, built for the community.

“The Arabian Clinic which was completed sometime ago, still remained unmanned. We humbly appeal to His Excellency John Agyekum Kufuor to detail qualified health personnel to man it”.

Dr. Anane expressed his happiness to the people of the area, that at long last, the problems associated with road transport, were nearly over. He noted the completion of the Toh-Kpalime-Dzemeni road, has reduced travelling time, from the regional capital, from three hours, to 30 minutes.

He appealed to the chiefs and people of the Volta Region to throw their weight behind government, stressing that no part of the country would be discriminated against in the allocation of projects.

Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister, also, asked the indigenes to support people from the region, in government, to do more for them.

He particularly, mentioned the Sokode-Abutia road, which he pointed out, through the instrumentality of Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, the road was awarded, on contract.

The 13-km road was awarded to Messrs Ussuya Ghana Ltd, at the cost of ¢7.38 billion.

The people of Abutia expressed their gratitude to Dr. Anane and the NPP Administration for bringing development to their doorsteps, and reducing their travelling period.

The Road Transport Minister also, inspected Vakpo township roads, the 50 km Kpandu-Worawora-Dambai road which is 93 per cent completed, Jasikan township roads, Have- Kpandu and Jasikan-Brewawiase trunk roads. Dr. Anane also, addressed durbars, organised by various communities, during his tour.