Gov't adopts measures to enhance micro economic environment

Mpraeso (E/R), July 1, GNA- The Minister of Communication, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has said the government had put in place adequate fiscal measures to enhance the country's micro economic environment.

He said due to prudent measures to streamline structural defects in the economy, multi-national financial organisations and other donors including the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had confidence in the economy and had financed several development projects.

Mr Dapaah was addressing a New Patriotic Party rally on Monday at Mpraeso in the Kwahu South District of the Eastern Region.

He said the government would not shirk its responsibility and would fulfil promises the party made to Ghanaians during the 2000 election campaign to adopt effective monetary measures and improve the living standards of the people.

The Minister appealed to all supporters of the party to co-operate and support the government to initiate effective policies and programmes to enhance the country's economic growth and development.

The Member Parliament (MP) for Abetifi, Mr Eugine Atta Agyapong, said the World Bank and the British government had given the government 125 million dollars and 130 million pounds sterling loans respectively to support the budget.

The Deputy Minister for Works and Housing and MP for Atiwa, Dr Obrempong Yeboah, said the government has secured a loan to put up affordable houses for workers throughout the country. The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo Mensah, advised party supporters to be abreast with government policies and programmes to enable them to explain it to the people in order to diffuse the opposition's propaganda. He said the contractor working on the Nkawkaw Sports Stadium had obtained certificate to start work on the project while Construction Pioneers had also decided to resume work on a portion of the Nkawkaw-Atibie road.

The Regional Minister said telephone facilities would be extended to Abetifi before the opening of the Presbyterian University at Abetifi in October while the telephone exchange at Mpraeso would be extended to cover other towns on the ridge.

The District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Raymond Osafo Gyan, said the government had awarded the Nkawkaw town, the Fodoa Kwahu-Praso, Kwahu Tafo-Adawso and Abetifi-Abene roads on contract while the Akwasiho-Suminakese-Hwehwee and Kwahu Tafo-Miaso feeder roads would be rehabilitated. He said some white farmers from Zimbabwe had invested in the area and would cultivate large hectares of soya beans for processing and export while efforts are being made to establish brick and tile factory to process clay deposits in the district.