Accra, June 1, GNA - Over 44.8 billion cedis would be required to put up a new zoo for Accra, including stocking it with exhibits.

The process for the development of a new zoo in the Achimota forests has begun and terms of reference for the design of the zoo, including design standards and guidelines, have been prepared with the pre-contract phase estimated at 6,985,000,000 billion cedis, Prof. Dominic Fobih, Minster of Lands, Forestry and Mines said in Parliament on Wednesday.

He said these in response to a question on preparations made to enable Kumasi Zoo to receive animals from Accra Zoo and arrangements to construct a new zoo for the capital.

The Minister said government released over one billion cedis to relocate Accra Zoo exhibits to Kumasi and all animals have been moved "and a ceremonial re-launch of Kumasi zoo was done on April 21, to climax activities welcoming the animals to their new environment." Earlier, Deputy Minister of Health, Mr Samuel Owusu-Agyei, who was also in the House to answer some questions, said beginning from next year, the Health Ministry would introduce the Health Assistance Programme, a lower level cadre professional programme, to replace the Enrolled Nursing programme as a way of supporting the health professionals in the hospitals.

He said, as a result, the Worawora Training School in the Volta Region, would be re-opened as a Health Assistance School and this would begin with the training of tutors and the refurbishment of existing structures.