Mrs Mazuko Asai, Japanese Ambassador, said on Friday that rural electrification was one of the key areas to attain poverty reduction.

She said rural electrification was one of the areas in which his country had been cooperating with Ghana.

Mrs Kazuko was speaking at the launch of the Nyinahin electrification project in the Atwima District.

The project, which would cost about 50 billion cedis would benefit about 39,000 people in about 7,700 households in 24 villages.

The Japanese envoy said 250 billion cedis was spent between 1989 and 1997 by Japan for the provision of electricity for Greater Accra, Lower Volta, Asesewa and Yeji for about 500,000 people in those areas.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Region Minister, said the government was desirous to provide every community with electricity and that the Nyinahin project should provide opportunities for employment for the people in the area.

He called for co-operation among the chiefs and their people to ensure the rapid development of the area.

Mr Charles Yeboah, Atwima District Chief Executive, commended the Japanese government for the assistance and appealed to the Japan Embassy to adopt the district in terms of developmental assistance.

He noted that Nyinahin had remained the food basket of Ashanti and the largest producer of cocoa and had large deposits of minerals such as gold and bauxite.

Mrs Kazuko was later enstooled as the Nkosuohemaa of Nyinahin with the stool name of Nana Afua Nyarko I.