Tarkwa (W/R), March 31, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Wednesday performed a sod-cutting ceremony at Tarkwa for the reconstruction of the 94.4 kilometre Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri road in the Western Region.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people, heads of department and other organisations at the function, President Mills assured the people of adequate development facilities to befit the area as producing the greater part of the nation's resources. The President admonished the traditional authorities to impress on their citizens to exhibit tolerance and discipline and morally support the contractors to execute the project on schedule. He said plans were advanced to tackle the railway project in the region to ease vehicular traffic.

The project would enhance regional, inter-regional integration and promote socio-economic life in communities within the road corridor.

Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways said the contract sum of the asphaltic road surfacing project was being funded by the European Union at estimated cost of 63 million dollars and was expected to be completed in 24 months.

He said it has the Reynolds Construction Company Limited as the contractors, with Gronmitj/Carl Bro and Comptran Engineers and planning Associates as the consultants with the Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) as the implementing and supervising Agency. The Minister indicated that the Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri road was the first phase of a 146.6 kilometre road that has been scheduled for rehabilitation from single surface dressed road to asphaltic surface. The second phase, he said, relates to a 52,2- kilometre Ayanfuri Asawinso road, with the project starting from Tarkwa Aboso junction through Bogoso to Ayamfuri on the Dunkwa-On-Offin Junction in the Central Region.

He said the rehabilitated road would facilitate the transportation of trade and services and form an important link in the wider transport network in the country. Its completion would help divert traffic and relieve arterial roads within the vicinity from heavy loads as well as serve as inter-link between the Central and Brong Ahafo and the Western Regions where rich resources like cocoa, timber, and mineral are produced to the port of Takoradi and La Cote d'Ivoire. Claude Maerten, Head of delegation of the European Union to Ghana called for an enabling environment for the private sector to operate smoothly but under close regulation.

Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase appealed to the government to rehabilitate the railway lines in the area to ease vehicular traffic, especially heavy duty vehicles which damaged the roads.

Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Regional Minister appealed to the traditional authorities to ensure that nobody put impediments in the way of the contractors.

Mr Francis Kwesi Blay, Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni-Valley expressed joy for the project, saying that after a long expectation it had come into reality. Speaking in interview he said the deplorable nature of the road network reduced trade transaction drastically thus affecting revenue generation. Tarkwa-Bogoso-Ayamfuri are mining towns and trade centres.