TECHIMAN-KINTAMPO PROJECT STRATEGIC ..President declares (PAGE 29)

THE President, Mr J.A. Kufuor, has performed two separate sodcutting ceremonies at Kintampo and Aworowa, near Wenchi, in the Brong Ahafo Region to mark the commencement of the reconstruction of the 60-kilometre Techiman-Kintampo trunk road and the 30-kilometre Techiman-Wenchi stretch.
The Techiman- Kintampo project, which forms an integral part of the national route linking the northern and southern parts of the country and also provides a transit corridor for Ghana’s landlocked neighbours would be a two- lane single carriage way with asphaltic concrete finish at the cost of $36.1 million, and is expected to be completed in 30 months.
The project, being funded jointly by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the government of Ghana is being executed by Messrs Shinsung Engineering and Construction Corporation of South Korea, with the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) as the supervising agency and Messrs Conterra limited as the consultant.
When the project is successfully completed, it will increase economic activities, facilitate the marketing of agricultural produce, generate employment and subsequently reduce poverty in the project area.
It is also expected that the improved quality of the road will significantly reduce travelling time and the consequent reduction of the cost of the transport of goods.The improved facility would generate higher transit traffic and thereby encourage increased economic activity in the local service industry.
The Techiman-Wenchi road project, which is being financed by the government at the cost of GH¢15.3million, is expected to be completed in 18 months and it is being undertaken by Messrs P.W. Ghanem, a local contractor.
Before the arrival of the President and his entourage at the Kintampo function at about 4.30p.m, the people had sung and danced to brass band music and traditional songs, apparently to express their delight and appreciation for the take off of the project which they had long anticipated.
The occasion was graced by the President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs, Okatakyie Agyeman Kudom IV, who is also the Omanhene of the Nkoranza Traditional Area and other chiefs and queens, Ministers of State, District Chief Executives, among other dignitaries.
Speaking at the function, President Kufuor acknowledged the strategic position of Kintampo as occupying the central position of Ghana, for which reason he said, people had suggested that Kintampo be made the national capital in the future if need be.
The President also gave the assurance that once the area had been upgraded as a municipality, it was significant that Kintampo received massive infrastructural development, adding that the existence of many tourist sites such as the Kintampo Waterfalls there was the need to develop the area to attract more tourists.
Upon a request made by the Nkoranzahene, who is also the overlord of the Kintampo area, the President directed that, the Kintampo township road be made a dual-carriage way to accommodate the many fleet of vehicles that transit in the town either on their way down south or up north.
On another request by Okatakyie, the President gave the assurance that the Jema-Nkwanta-Nkoranza road would be tackled as well as others in the area.
Acknowledging the fact that the previous government had undertaken the Paga to Kintampo road, it was the resolve of his administration to complete the remaining section and indeed all major trunk roads in the country as well as the execution of feeder roads to allow for free transportation of foodstuffs to the marketing centres.
President Kufuor said it was the intention of the government to transform the Accra-Kumasi trunk road into a motorway, saying that people who were currently plying that route could attest to the fact that the road was in good shape.
He appealed to the people to co-operate with the contractors to enable them to execute the project and complete it on schedule, and cautioned other road users to be careful.
The President expressed his delight and satisfaction to hear from the President of the Regional House of Chiefs that preparations were far advanced to organise a fitting burial and funeral for the Chief of the Mo traditional area, Nana Kwaku Dimpo, after which some widows would enjoy their traditional freedom.
President Kufuor also did not mince words when he told the people that, since the area was now a municipality, they needed to keep the Kintampo township and its environs very tidy, saying that as a tourist centre, people would come around to observe things for themselves.
He also admonished the municipal assembly to ensure that the revenue they generated locally was judiciously utilised to complement what the government was doing but not to use the people’s taxes for their selfish ends.
The President again urged the Nkoranzahene to endeavour to settle the boundary issue that existed between the Kintampo and Yagbon traditional area, adding that killing one another because of land matters did not augur well for the country, especially now that there was an oil find and all Ghanaians were soon to reap the benefits.
President Kufuor pointed out that under the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the people had enjoyed an absolute rule of law, their properties had not been forcibly taken away from them and that everyone was enjoying the freedom they deserved, a visible legacy he was leaving behind for Ghanaians.
He further pointed out that the policies of the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant, the Free, Compulsory Universal Basic Education (FCUBE) and the introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to replace the obnoxious cash and carry system, were ample evidence of his government’s good stewardship, which the people ought not to ignore.
The President repeated his recent pronouncement that with the oil find, there would be an extension of free education at the second cycle a statement some critics had doubted.
The Minister of Transportation, Dr Richard Anane, gave the assurance that the necessary environmental, safety and traffic management measures were implemented to minimise the expected inconveniences.
He indicated that when the project started motorists and travellers would experience some inconveniences, and therefore, appealed to them as well as the local inhabitants, pedestrians and commuters to exercise care and caution on the road and follow safety measures that will be put in place during the construction period.
“With the commencement of this project, in addition to others that are in progress all over the country, your government is steadily actualising but commitment to the provision of first class all weather roads to facilitate socio-economic development of our dear nation.
“I wish to assure you of our commitment to ensure that all planned and approved projects are executed to specification and this will serve as a legacy of your remarkable contribution to the development of this nation’s”, he stressed.
Dr Alieu Jence, the Country Director of the AfDB, Ghana Office, pointed out that the bank was committed to contributing to the infrastructural development in Ghana as well as other socio-economic developments and “we promise to work hard with our Ghanaian colleagues to ensure that the programme is implemented in a timely manner”.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, in a brief welcoming remarks noted that the long-standing dream of the people of Kintampo would come to pass with the sodcutting ceremony for work to begin on the road, and more importantly for the fact that the township roads were going to be constructed and expanded.