Akufo-Addo cuts sod for two roads in Northern Region
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Friday (August 16, 2019) cut the sod for two roads in the Northern Region along the country’s eastern corridor.
The two roads are expected to be completed in three-and-half years. They are the Kpandai-Ekumdipe-Salaga road covering 62 km and the 71km Bimbilla-Salaga road.
Both road projects which cost GH¢295 million are being funded by the Government of Ghana.
Road works on the projects include construction of concrete drains, upgrading and double sealing of the surfaces with bitumen.
On completion, the roads are expected to improve transportation in the area and prolong the lifespan of vehicles that operate in the area, while facilitating commerce and industry.
Durbar
Speaking afterwards at a durbar of the chiefs and people at Kpandai, President Akufo-Addo, who was on a tour of the Northern Region, said the roads were among the government's priority projects.
He said the Kpandai area which is one of the country’s food basket zones had suffered bad roads for far too long and the government was this time going to do something about it to enable easy transportation of farm produce.
The President said the government's resolve to embark on massive road infrastructure development was intended to help with the rapid development of the country.
He urged the chiefs and people in the area to rally behind the government as it worked hard to get them their fair share of the national cake.
"The government is on course to fulfilling all its promises and so I urge you all to support the government as it delivers on its mandate," he said.
Diversification of economy
In a speech read on behalf of the Chief of Kpandai, Nana Kwadjo Binyingne II, he said the people in the area were relying too much on yam production and that was hurting the local economy heavily.
He, therefore, called for rice valleys that could enable commercial rice production to be developed in the area as part of the government’s plans to reduce rice importation.
He commended the government for the various interventions that had been implemented in the area and which were having a positive impact on the people.
He pledged that "the people of Kpandai will continue to remain faithful to your government for it to stay in power and continue with its development agenda.”
Agriculture mechanisation centre
The President also addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of Wulensi in the Nanumba South District where he presented some farm machinery to the district assembly in support of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.
He said the government was donating farm machinery to the districts in a move to revamp agriculture mechanisation centres across the country with the aim to invigorate agricultural production.
The Regent of Wulensi, Naa Salifu Osman Wumbei, commended the President for the gesture and said it would go a long way to boost agriculture in the district.