GH¢8,885,634.58 VOTED FOR ROADS DEV IN BA (PAGE 35, DEC 9, 2010)

THE government has voted GH¢8,885,634.58 for the upgrading and surface dressing of major feeder roads in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The move is part of government’s efforts to provide access to the hinterlands to facilitate movement of people and haulage of agricultural produce to the commercial centres in and outside the region.
The roads to be rehabilitated include the Bomaa-Tepa, Tekesse-Yaa Mansa, Badu-Droboso, Mim-Asukese-Kwahu, Weijakrom-Mim, New Kokrompe-Mpaamu Valley Farm Track roads, Tanokrom-Akohasuamu Valley Farm Tracks, Yeji, Sampa and Goaso town roads.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo announced this at a meeting with members of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs at Sunyani.
He stated that the government’s promise to establish a University of Energy and Natural Resources in the region was on course, adding that land had been acquired for the establishment of the institution.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the national and regional task forces set up to oversee the implementation of the project had completed their feasibility studies and submitted their report to the government.
He commended Nananom for donating large hectares of land for the project.
“It is my conviction that the realisation of this project will not only boost standard and access to tertiary education in the region, but will also create economic and employment opportunities in the region,” Mr Nyamekye-Marfo stated.
He said a hospital would be constructed in the Tain District under the Ghana Hospitals Project financed by Euroget De-Invest S.A. of Egypt, which was recently, launched by the Vice-President.
According to him, about 70 acres of land had been acquired for the project and structural design was being finalised for the implementation of the project.
Touching on the Fertiliser Subsidy Programme, the Regional Minister said, as at September 2010, 125,545 bags of different types of fertilisers had been supplied to farmers in the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said that had helped the farmers to cultivate 11,555 hectares of crops which comprised maize, rice, sorghum, soya beans and tomatoes.
He said under the National Forest Plantation Development Programme and the Greening Ghana Project, a total of 127,000 seedlings had been planted on 85.5 hectares of land since March, 2010, while 43,892 seedlings had been distributed to the various district assemblies in the region.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said on the national food security programme, 21,227 mini bags of maize had been stored in pro-cocoon facilities in Sunyani, Wenchi, Atebubu and Tain collection points.
He said under the Agricultural Mechanisation Programme, nine mechanisation centres had been set up in the region with 45 tractors to facilitate access to the equipment by farmers.
Mr Nyamekye-Marfo mentioned the locations as Tano Obuase, Nkoranza, Kintampo, Wenchi, Amantin Atebubu and Tuobodom.
He called on traditional rulers in the region to use their expertise in conflict resolution to resolve all the chieftaincy disputes pending before the Regional House of Chiefs.
 Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said no meaningful development could take place when there was no peace and stability.
He, therefore, urged Nananom to stem chieftaincy and land disputes in the region to sustain peace.
The President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi, who is also Omanhene of Kukuom Traditional Area, pleaded with the house to amicably settle all chieftaincy disputes pending before it.