Half-Assini (W/R), Aug. 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Monday inaugurated a television transmitter for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) at Half-Assini in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

The transmitter would enable the people in the area to have access to programmes from the Ghana Television for the first time since the inception of television in Ghana in 1965.

The project being undertaken by Rhodes and Schwartz, forms part of a 17.4 million Euro programme by the GBC, to install 48 television transmitters in 28 sites nationwide to enable the GBC to improve on its operations.

The inauguration by President Kufuor forms part of his five-day official visit to the Western Region.

He said the transmitter would enable the people in the area to have direct access to first hand information on government policies, programmes and entertainment through audio and visual means. Ms Eva Lokko, Director General of the GBC, said the project, which began three years ago would transform the quality of both radio and television in the country.

She said the content of GBC's output would be further enhanced with the arrival of new studio equipment for the Corporation soon. Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omahene of the Western Nzema Traditional Area in an address read on his behalf said the transmitter would open up the district to the outside world.

"We are aware of the negative effect the culture from Cote d'Ivoire has on the people in the District, especially the youth and this will be reversed," he said.

He appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads and bridges in the area.