Jasikan, Sept 8, GNA - Mr. Henry Ford Kamel, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, on Tuesday said the government had secured funds to reconstruct parts of the Asikuma/ Damako road in the Volta Region.

He said when completed the road would shorten the travel distance between the south and northern parts of the country. Mr. Kamel, who was inspecting damaged spots on the 28-klilometre Hohoe/Jasikan road, said the contract for the Asikuma/Damako road would be awarded to deferent contractors to ensure they finish the project on schedule.

He appealed to the Ministry of Highways to consider giving first aid maintenance to the damaged portions of roads to enable farmers to cart their produce to marketing centres.

Mr. Kamel, the Member of Parliament for Buem, said Hohoe Hospital was the only referral health centre in the area and the bad nature of the road made it difficult for patients to be transported to the facility. "The normal time to travel from Jasikan to Hohoe is 30 minutes, but the current nature of the road will not permit any driver to make it in less than an hour", he said. Mr Kamel appealed to the Ministry of Highways to pay attention to the swampy areas of the road by re-engineering it.