Asankrangwa (W/R), Aug. 17, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday inspected work on the rehabilitated 34-kilometre Asankrangwa-Manso-Amenfi road in the Amenfi West District. The road, which forms part of the Asankrangwa-Manso-Bawdie road, was financed by the World Bank and the government at an estimated cost of 100 billion cedis.

President Kufuor inspected the road, which is about 95 per cent complete and is expected to be handed over to the government as part of his four-day tour of the Western Region.

Addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people, President Kufuor was optimistic that rehabilitation of roads in the area would be extended to Enchi and Dadieso.

He announced that feasibility studies on the rehabilitation of roads within Asankrangwa Township had been completed and would soon be awarded on contract.

President Kufuor observed that Ghanaians had not fully utilised the potentials in the Region due to the deplorable nature of the roads and pledged the government's commitment that roads in the Region would be rehabilitated for the full utilisation of both human and natural resources in the region for the country's socio-economic development.

He appealed to districts in which senior secondary schools (SSS) had been selected for upgrading to exercise patience because the policy was being implemented systematically to its logical conclusion. President Kufuor said work on some of the first batch of 31 schools selected had not been completed and the government would ensure that they were completed before work on the second batch of 25 would begin in order not to create problems with the implementation of the policy.

On the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), he appealed to the people not to hesitate in registering but to endeavour to convince and educate others to register in order to benefit from the scheme.

President Kufuor reiterated his call on chiefs that his government would not meddle in chieftaincy issues but the institution should use laid down customary rites and traditions to nominate and enstool chiefs for peace and harmony to prevail.

"The chieftaincy institution is a long time cherished institution and the government will not be drawn into chieftaincy disputes that retard progress and development," he added.

President Kufuor said the government was not perturbed by the vile allegation, propaganda and criticisms by its opponents "because we know ourselves as competent to solve the hydra-headed socio-economic problem of the country."

Nana Anyane Boadu III, Chief of Asankrangwa in a speech read on his behalf appealed to the government, to upgrade the Asankrangwa Catholic Hospital to a district hospital.

"We believe this would be cheaper than asking for the construction of an entirely new facility to serve as a district hospital for the Amenfi West District," he added.

Nana Boadu appealed to the Ministry of Trade to assist the District in processing cocoa husks and other raw materials into useful products.