Tamale, Dec. 19, GNA - Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive, on Monday unveiled a Tamale Beautification Project to give the metropolis a facelift.

The project is in preparation towards the 50th anniversary of Ghana's independence next year and the "CAN 2008" soccer fiesta. The proposed activities under the project include street naming, house numbering, landscaping of roundabouts and parks, the provision of fountains at some roundabouts, street lighting, tree planting as well as beautification of ceremonial parks.

Mr. Adam, who unveiled the plan at a press conference, said the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly had engaged the services of consultants to facilitate the execution of the project.

He said the Tamale Old Library Park would be landscaped at a cost of 45 million cedis and converted into a resting and recreation spot while the library would be turned into an information centre with modern facilities including restaurants and bars.

Accelon, an international netwotk provider, would install a "wi-fi" at the centre to facilitate Internet access. The assembly is expected to spend 60 million cedis to fence the centre, he said.

Mr. Adam said the Tamale Police Park, which had been turned into a ceremonial park, would receive a facelift through funding from the Jubilee Secretariat.

An Obelisk (like the independence arch) would be constructed on the main ceremonial road leading to the Regional Police Headquarters. He said the Gulkpe-Naa's Palace would be rehabilitated while four roundabouts at Lamashegu, Nyohini, Dakpema's Palace and Hill Top would be provided with fountains and flowers.

He said Coca Cola, Kassardjan and Tigo companies had agreed to sponsor the projects.

Mr. Adam said the assembly had taken delivery of electrical fittings to replace fused bulbs on the streetlights.

The assembly, he said, had also negotiated with Coral Paint to sell its products at a 7.5 per cent discount to landlords to enable them to repaint their buildings along the major streets. Government buildings and offices would also be painted.

Mr Adam appealed to residents of the metropolis to cooperate with the assembly for the smooth execution of the project.