President John Dramani Mahama on Friday hinted that government would liaise with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, to explore the possibility of establishing a jewelry institute in the Ashanti Region.

"I am highly delighted that even before the conclusion of consultations, Nana Tepehene has already availed 40 hectares of land for the project,” President Mahama stated.

The President gave the hint when he visited Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North District, as part of his three-day official visit to the Ashanti Region.

President Mahama said the establishment of a jewelry institute in the country would add value to the raw mineral exploited in the country, to raise income levels for government in the mining sector.

The President said the establishment would also create numerous jobs for Ghanaians that would be engaged in the production, sales and exportation of the finished goods.

During the visit, President Mahama broke grounds for commencement of cocoa road projects at Subin Camp in the Adansi South District, and Bekwai in Amansie both in the Ashanti Region.

The President is to inspect development projects at Tepa, including the 60-bed district hospital project that government initiated a couple of years ago.

He will climax his three-day Ashanti Regional visit with the inauguration of a playground complex in the Kumasi Metropolis.

On the rehabilitation of roads in the district, President Mahama mentioned; Tepa-Goaso, Tepa-Bomaa, Maafo-Subriso, Fanti, Anyenasusu and Nyameadom roads, as some of the beneficiaries.

Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampim, Paramount Chief of the Tepa Traditional area, commended President Mahama for upgrading the Tepa Senior High School.

He, however, appealed to government to construct more classroom blocks for the basic schools in the district, to accommodate the growing number of students in the area.

Nana Ampim commended President Mahama for siting a new Day Senior High School at Maafo in the District, and appealed to government to construct a new boys' dormitory for the Tepa Senior High School to accommodate the growing numbers of students in the school.

"We will also be happy if President Mahama could work hard to complete the Jubilee market project for the people of Tepa that was initiated some years back," the Paramount Chief added.

Mr Peter Anarfi-Mensah, Ashanti Regional Minister said, although government had carried out a number of development projects in the district, a lot more were underway.