Kumasi, June 07, GNA - Mr Kwaku Agyemang-Manu, Deputy Minister for the Interior on Thursday said Government had earmarked about 60 billion cedis from the HIPC Fund for a national street re-naming exercise to facilitate spatial planning and revenue mobilization.

He said the national programme was self-financing, therefore; Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies were expected to generate their own resources for the counterpart funding. Mr Agyemang-Manu announced this when addressing the opening session of a day's workshop for stakeholders in the assemblies to brainstorm on the street re-naming.

Professor Paul W. K. Yankson, Member of the National Street Naming Technical Committee Project told participants that the project would be undertaken in phases.

He said the first phase that had already begun was expected to be completed by the end of the year.

They were Shama-Ahanta-East Metropolitan Area (SAEMA), Tarkwa in Wassa West District in the Western region, Kumasi metropolis, Konongo-Odumasi, Bekwai and Offinso in the Ashanti region. Professor Yankson said Dodowa and Ada in Greater Accra Region, Ho in the Volta Region, Koforidua, Kibi and Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region would be included in the first phase while Sunyani, Berekum, Dormaa Ahenkro all in the Brong-Ahafo Region, Tamale, Bolgatanga and Wa in the three Northern Regions would be tackled. Mr Kofi Bempah, Programme Consultant demonstrated to the participants how the information on individuals could be accessed on the computer.

He said disaster victims could easily be located to ensure their safety when the programme was implemented.