Saltpond Lower Town (Nankesedo) (C/R), Oct. 10, GNA - Saltpond in the Central Region is to be given a face-lift to enable it to regain its former glory as the birthplace of two important political parties, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).

In this regard, some of the town's roads have been awarded on contract for rehabilitation while the others would be captured in the annual budget estimate for next year.

Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng, a Deputy Minister for Information announced this at a durbar organised by chiefs and people of Saltpond Lower Town (Nankesedo) to climax the celebration of their annual Ayerye Festival at the weekend.

Mr Asamoah Boateng who is the NPP parliamentary candidate for Mfantseman West said the government would do everything possible to bring the town, which used to be the "Mecca" of politicians back to life.

He appealed to the people to co-operate by ensuring that sanitation was improved.

The Deputy Minister commended the people of Lower Town for instituting an education endowment fund to support brilliant but needy students and donated two million cedis to the fund.

Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, the District Chief Executive, said festivals should reminded the people of the unity and togetherness with which our fore fathers pursued their programmes.

Mr Quainoo-Arthur said that spirit should guide us to do away with any divisive tendencies that inhibited progress.

He advised the gathering, especially chiefs to ensure that the forthcoming election was conducted in a peaceful manner.

The DCE donated 100 bags of cement for the completion of a day-care centre complex project being embarked upon by the community. Nana Baah VII, chief of Lower Town and Nimfahene of the Njusukum Traditional Area said the community had launched a 10-year development plan and mentioned the day care centre complex, the rehabilitation of schools, sinking of boreholes, construction of water closet toilet as some of the projects to be undertaken.

He announced that Master Emmanuel Aggrey was the first beneficiary of a scholarship scheme introduced for students who excel in the BECE but had no one to sponsor their education in Senior Secondary Schools. Nana Baah said the scheme would not be restricted to only citizens of Saltpond but also to any student who attended school in the town.