Kintampo (B/A) Sept. 17, GNA - The Government has voted seven billion cedis to the University of Development Studies to establish a medical school and a campus at Kintampo in Brong Ahafo. President John Agyekum Kufuor announced this at Kintampo on Thursday when addressing a grand durbar of chiefs and people on the last day of his five-day official tour of the Region.

He pledged the Government's determination to assist in the planning and development of Kintampo, "which is the heart of Ghana, a potential tourist attraction with a future".

The President said Kintampo had been earmarked as one of the areas for the establishment of a President's Special Initiative (PSI) on cassava and other agro-processing factories due to the agricultural potentials in the area.

He therefore, called for unity among the various ethnic groups in the area for effective development, following the division of the district into two, Kintampo North and Kintampo South. He said roads and drains in Kintampo town would soon be awarded on contract for rehabilitation.

Nana Minkah Baanawa 11, Apamhene of Mo Traditional Area commended the government for the provision of 115 boreholes in the area, leading to a drastic reduction in guinea-worm infection.

He said the upgrading of the Kintampo and Babato markets through the joint effort of the Government and the GTZ, would ginger up economic activities in the area as well as bring in more revenue.

The chief noted that about 80 percent of schools in the area had been given a facelift through a consistent programme, funded jointly by the District Assembly Common fund, GETFUND and HIPC Fund.

Nana Minkah appealed for the upgrading of the Kintampo Secondary School, the only second-cycle institution in the district to help raise the standard of education in the district. President Kufuor also addressed durbars at Chiraa, Jema and inaugurated the Tuobodom market.

At Jema, President Kufuor urged the community to join hands together to ensure the growth of the new district.

He said a first list of 56 senior secondary schools would be upgraded and promised that Jema Secondary School in the district would be considered during the second phase of the programme.

President Kufuor expressed dissatisfaction with incidents during some NPP Primaries, stressing that one did not necessarily have to be a parliamentarian before being considered for a Ministerial post, "hence it is not necessary for aspiring brothers and sisters in the party to be separated by politics in the name of primaries".

Nana Asare Akomea, Kyidomhene of Nkoranza Traditional Area thanked President Kufuor for his wisdom and magnanimity in creating the district.

"We have stood solidly by you over the three-and-a-half years and we shall continue to pray and support you even as the nation moves towards elections in December", he said.

The President also addressed similar durbars of chief and the people at Nkoranza and Techiman. During his tour, he visited and addressed durbars in about 20 towns, most of them in the newly created districts and inaugurated development projects.

President Kufuor said the tour was to afford him the opportunity to have an on the spot account of government policies and programmes to enable him offer an effective account of his stewardship to the people. Among his entourage were Mr. J.H. Mensah, Senior Minister, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kwamena Bartels, Minister of Private Sector Development, Professor Christopher Ameyaw Akumfi, Minister of Railways, Ports and Harbours, Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Manu, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Nana Gabby Nketiah, Presidential Aide, Nana Kwadwo Seinti, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Adjapong, Presidential Spokesman and Mr. Stephen Ntim, National First Chairman of NPP.