Kpandai (N/R), Nov. 25, GNA - The Government on Wednesday pledged 600 million cedis to the authorities of two senior secondary schools (SSS) in the East Gonja District to construct dormitory blocks. The schools that would receive 300 million cedis each from the Ministry Education, Youth and Sports are the Salaga and Kpandai Senior Secondary Schools.

President John Agyekum Kufuor announced these when he addressed separate durbars of the chiefs and people of the Salaga and Kpandai on the third day of his five-day official tour of the Northern Region. The pledges were in response to appeals made by the chiefs for assistance to improve infrastructure at the schools.

He said the Government had good intentions for the District because of its contribution to the country's economy.

President Kufuor said the Salaga SSS had been selected for upgrading into a model school next year and would be allocated 16 billion cedis to expand its infrastructure, laboratories, libraries and other facilities to attract quality teachers.

He said the Tamale-Salaga road would be tarred while a bridge would be constructed over river Daka for easy accessibility in the District.

To an appeal by the Chiefs of Kpandai for a separate district, President Kufuor told them that the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would conduct feasibility studies and if they fulfilled the criteria a new district would be created for them.

A spokesman for the people said there was absolute peace and harmony between all the ethnic groups in the area and commended the Government for the provision of a modern market, post office and places of convenience for the people.