Donkorkrom (E/R), April 24, GNA - Mr Yaw Barimah, the Eastern Regional Minister, has said the government was taking measures to harness the agricultural potentials of the Afram Plains to increase food production for local consumption and for export. Processing factories would be established to process some of the farm produce for export to enhance the country's foreign exchange earnings.

Mr Barimah, who said this at a People's Forum at Donkorkrom in the Afram Plains District on Friday, said the government is spending 38 billion cedis on feeder roads construction in the district. He said the construction of the Ekye

Amanfrom-Donkorkrom-Amankwaakrom highway was on course and there were plans to improve the pontoon services linking the area on both the Afram River and the Volta Lake to enable farmers to transport their produce to the marketing centres.

On the petroleum deregulations exercise, the Regional Minister said it was to involve private participation in the importation and distribution of petroleum products in the country to relieve the government of bearing the burden alone.

He said with the current price of about 60 dollars a barrel on the world market a gallon of petrol should have been sold at 40,000 cedis but the "government is sensitive to the plight of the people." Mr Barimah urged Ghanaians to support the government's economic measures to enhance the country's development.

Mr Benjamin Anokye, the District Chief Executive, said a number of development projects including pipe borne water, roads, extension of electricity, classroom blocks, health centres and telecommunications have been provided communities.

The people expressed concern about delays by road contractors engaged on the various roads in the district and urged the government to ensure their completion.