Modernisation of Capital City Not For Fun - Kufuor

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday, said the creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City is not for fun.

For the past two years a team of architects and planners had been tasked to re-plan the capital city to a level in line with any city in the world from the Airport Residential Area through the principal streets to the beaches, he said.

President Kufuor was addressing a durbar of the Chiefs and people in the Ga Traditional Area at Bukom, in the Accra Metropolis as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region.

He said the new Ministry was working very hard to put the plan in action and noted that, in due course Ghanaians would appreciate the essence of the plan envisaged.

President Kufuor invited ideas for consideration and incorporation into the modernisation plan for the city since it would not be effective without the co-operation of the government, chiefs and the people.

"We want to prepare Accra and Bukom being the centre of the city in such a way that, visitors could see and observe the authentic Ghanaian heritage".

"We also want to modernise Accra and Bukom to maintain their cultural essence," President Kufuor said.

He appealed to the Chiefs and people to co-operate with the government to maintain the peace, stability and the rule of law prevailing in the country, adding, "When you co-operate with the government, the peace and stability prevailing would translate to economic growth".

President Kufuor said government had taken measures to solve some of the problems facing the people such as bad roads and the construction of an abattoir befitting the status of the city.

He said with Bukom as the cradle of boxing in the country, a modern gym should be built in the area for budding talents to train and win more laurels for Ghana.

"A sportsman or woman cannot prepare well to become a world champion without the availability of scientific and technological inputs and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports would be involved in the establishment of the modern gym and better educational facilities for the youth to prevent teenage pregnancies in the area," he said.

President Kufuor stressed the need for the MP for the area, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, the Regional Minister and the Fisheries Department to collaborate to establish an ice making and freezing facility at Bukom for the fishermen to prevent them from dumping their catch back into the sea.

He said the fishermen and fishmongers who benefited from the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) under the HIPC loan facility would be offered more assistance and extended.

President Kufuor said the rehabilitation of the Salaga Market would be completed next month and appealed to the traders to maintain and keep it clean.

Nii Adote Obuor, Sempe Mantse, commended the government for the peace and stability prevailing in the country, which had led to a reduction in the crime wave.

This year's Homowo celebrations would be a worthwhile period to consider the city modernisation plan, he said, adding that, when well implemented would ensure remarkable improvement in the city of Accra. Nii Obuor called for unity and co-operation with the government to implement its policies and programmes and assured the government that the people were prepared to assist for the country's socio-economic development.