Kpando-Torkor, (V/R) Oct. 26, GNA -The General Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana is to transform the banks along the Volta Lake at Kpando-Torkor into tourist havens. The programme is to be partly supported by the Italian Trades Union Confederation (CISL) and the Italian Pensioners Trade Union (FNP) under GAWU'S programme to raise the living standards of farmers and fishermen in the informal sector.

Mr. Andrews Tagoe, Coordinator of the programme said this on Tuesday at the commissioning of a 70-milion cedis borehole funded by the Italian organisations for the Kpando-Torkor community. He said under the Health and Safety Programme component of the GAWU's integrated project, a massive educational campaign would be mounted to wean members of community off habits that degraded the lake and its surroundings.

Mr. Tagoe said after that, trees would be planted along the banks and recreational resorts set up to cater for the entertainment needs of the members of the community and tourists. He lamented that currently the lakeside is littered with garbage and served as toilets for some members of the community. Mr. Pious Adanuti, Kpando District Chief Executive (DCE) said the bylaws on the haphazard disposal of refuse and indiscriminate defecation at the lakeside would be enforced.

"Beaches and banks of rivers should be attractions and not filthy and despicable sights to behold," he stated Mr Simon Axame, Kpando District Environmental Officer announced that the district would mark World Environmental Day at Kpando-Torkor with focus on the misuse of the banks of the lake. Mr Samuel Kangah General-Secretary of the GAWU said the Italian partners had earmarked about 5,000 Euros for other projects, including a resource centre with a library and computer laboratory for the community.

He announced that GAWU had donated 20 million cedis to the community towards the construction of other potable water facilities for them by the Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA).