Nsuta-Wassa (W/R), Mar. 12, GNA- The Ghana Manganese Company Limited (GMC) is to increase production from 1.5 million tonnes to two million tonnes by the end of this year.

The company had registered steady increase in production over the past two years from 1.1 million tons in 2001 to 1.5 million tons between 2002-2003.

Mr. Rexford Agyemang, Administrative Manager of the Company disclosed this when selected school children from the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis paid a visit to the mines as part of the 47th Independence anniversary celebrations.

The Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Tourist Board and the GMC jointly organized the trip.

He said workers of the company have vowed to work hard to achieve the target.

Mr. Agyemang said the company spent 100 million cedis on scholarships for 202 students in secondary and tertiary institutions for the past few years, and said the GMC places great emphasis on education and would continue to support brilliant but needy students.

Mr. Joseph S. Appiah, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) called on workers of the company to work hard for increased production.

He said it was the aim of the board to ensure that new locomotives were acquired to improve rail transport.