Offinso (Ash), April 11, GNA - The Ministry of Information is to construct an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre at Namong in the Offinso District at the cost of 39 million cedis to help improve communication in the District.

Mr Collins Augustine Ntim, Offinso District Chief Executive, who announced this at the People's Assembly at Offinso on Monday, said the project would take-off before the end of the year. He said the Assembly and the Members of Parliament for Offinso North and South, Mr Kwabena Sarfo and Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku had started special initiatives on cocoa, oil palm and citrus cultivation, adding that so far 17 seed banks had been established for distribution to farmers.

The DCE said 340 youth in the area would be recruited and trained in the proper planting of seedlings to farmers and that it was expected that about 3,000 farmers would benefit from such assistance. Mr Ntim noted that the construction of the Kumasi-Techiman road had resulted in the destruction of some pipelines causing scarcity of water to some communities in the District especially Amoawi and assured the people that the Ghana Water Company Limited had promised to provide tanker services to address the problem.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, reacting to a question on chainsaw operations in the District described the activity as illegal and that it was the source of the destruction of farms and other property.

He therefore directed the Offinso District Police Commander to team up with the District Forest Services Division to check the activities of chainsaw operators.

The Regional Minister reiterated the determination of the government to develop the country, adding that a lot of HIPC funded and European Union (EU) projects scattered all over the country had testified to the efforts of the government to improve the living conditions of the people.

The people complained about the lack of toilet facilities, electricity in some communities, deplorable road network and employment opportunities for the youth and appealed to the government to solve those problems. Nana Wiafe Akenten, Omanhene of Offinso traditional area who chaired the function urged the government to involve traditional rulers in educating their subjects on government policies and programmes. 11 April 06