Sankpala (N/R), April 29, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday cut the sod for work to begin on the reconstruction of the 103- kilometre Buipe-Tamale highway at the cost of $73.6 million. The US is paying $66.1 million of the total cost while the Government of Ghana would offer $7.5 million.

The President who is on a four-day tour of the Northern Region, urged commuters using the highway to bear with the slow pace of traffic as the construction works were likely to delay vehicular movement. President Mills commended the Central Gonja District for undertaking 109 infrastructural projects including education, health and security and urged the assembly to continue with the good works for the fullest realisation of the Better Ghana Agenda.

The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu said the constructio= n work, which would take 24 months to be completed would include resurfacing and tarring of the road to meet international standards. He said the Buipe-Tamale road since its construction in the early 90s, had not been rehabilitated, saying government was concern about the maintenance of s roads country wide.

Mr Salisu Be-Awuribe, Central Gonja District Chief Executive said the District was building a good human resource base through the sponsorship of a number of people to various educational institutions including medical students. He said more than 1,000 youth had been engaged in various models of th= e National Youth Employment Programme while the District had also acquired construction equipment to improve on the road network in the area. At Sankpala, the President inaugurated a clinic at the cost of GH¢87,144.

In a related development, the President will be celebrating May Day on Sunday at Walewale in the West Mamprusi District.