President Mills cuts sod for Berekum-Seikwa road project

Seikwa (B/A), April 6, GNA - President John Atta Mills has cut the sod for work to begin on a 32.4- kilometre road linking Berekum to Seikwa in the Tain District.

The project, estimated at GHC43 million and expected to be completed within a year, would be developed into a bituminous surface level by J. Adom Limited, a Sunyani-based road and building construction firm.

The President assured Ghanaians that the government would not renege on its promise to ensure fair and equitable distribution of national resources.

He asked for total support of every Ghanaian, irrespective of tribal and political affiliation, to enable the country to develop socially and economically.

Addressing a joint durbar of chiefs and people of Seikwa, Badu and Nsawkaw at Seikwa at which he cut the sod for the road project to begin on Tuesday, President Mills said the government existed to use political power to advance the cause of the people and not to lord over people for selfish interests.

Mr. Joe Gidisu, the Minister of Roads and Highways, said 93the road has been a living landmark in the area", hence the President had made its reconstruction a priority project.

He expressed the hope that when completed the road would open up the economic potentials of the Tain District and its environs.

Nana Kwaku Ankoanda II, Paramount Chief of Seikwa Traditional Area, pledged the support and commitment of the chiefs and people of the area to ensure that all projects being undertaken by government and the Tain District Assembly were successfully executed. The chief, who said the President had already been installed as "Nkosoohene" (developmental chief) of the area because of his dedicated services to them, also elevated Mr. Johnson Asiedu-Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and a citizen of Seikwa as the 93Sompahene" (illustrious and dedicated service chief).

Nana Kwaku Ankoanda said Mr. Asiedu-Nketia deserved that elevation because for 12 consecutive years he had served as Member of Parliament for the area and had performed dedicatedly and creditably in the interest of the people.

Mr. Jones Samuel Tawiah, District Chief Executive for Tain, said the Assembly was undertaking several projects and these include 18 towns being hooked on to the national electricity grid within the last two years and all these towns had been provided with street lights by the Assembly.

The President before the durbar visited the Nkoranman Senior High School (SHS) where he inspected some on-going Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) projects.

At Mim in Asunafo North Municipality, President Mills was welcomed with another joint durbar of chiefs and people of Mim and Goaso.

Okoforobour Dr. Yaw Agyei, Paramount Chief of Mim Traditional Area, commended the President and said the occasion marked the first time that a sitting President had visited them since he became chief. He said Mim was an industrial hub in the Ahafo part of the Region because the town played host to companies such as Mim Cashew (formerly Agro Industries Mim Limited), Ayum Timbers (formerly Mim Timber Company) and Scanstyle Mim Limited.

President Mills' presence in Brong-Ahafo is part of his working visit to five regions in the country to ascertain the impact of government projects and programmes and the living conditions of the people. 6 April 11