Tarkwa (W/R) Dec.22 GNA - The Government has decided to elevate the Western University College, formerly the Tarkwa School of Mines to a full university status.

In addition, a modern hospital is to be built at Tarkwa and the abandoned local nurses training school reactivated. President John Agyekum Kufuor announced these when he cut the sod for work to commence on the 62.4 kilometre Agona Junction - Tarkwa road at Tarkwa on Monday.

The road, which was constructed in the mid fifties by the Colonial Government and serves, as the main artery road to the central and northern parts of the Western Region, has not seen any major rehabilitation.

The European Union is funding the reconstruction of the road that would take 24 months to complete at the cost of 17 million Euros, about 141 billion cedis.

The Project forms part of the Phase III of EU's Transport Infrastructure Programme under which 56 million Euros would b spent to rehabilitate a number of roads in the country.

Messrs TAYSEC Limited is undertaking the project under the supervision of the Ghana Highway Authority and Messrs Scetauroute. President Kufuor said, even though the road was of great economic importance, successive governments ignored it, making it a "death trap" adding that other roads in the Region would soon be rehabilitated to open up the area, which is the richest Region in the country.

He said feasibility studies for the establishment of a teacher training college at Tarkwa, a request made by the Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil VI, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase, would be undertaken in conjunction with the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports.

President Kufuor commended the EU for its invaluable contribution to the development of the country and appealed to the Union to provide soft loans to the Government to develop the country's infrastructure especially in the Western Region to unleash the abundant wealth there.

He acknowledged the vision of the Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the First President in developing infrastructure and pledged his Government's determination to continue from where Dr Nkrumah left off.

President Kufuor told the people that, the major responsibility for the Government and the people was to enter the New Year in unity as one people to lift the country up.

Dr Richard Winfred Anane, Minister of Roads and Transport, said the road would be constructed to a two-lane single carriageway with asphalted concrete wearing course, taking into consideration, the fact that it is the main corridor for the haulage of cocoa, timber and food crops to the Takoradi port and marketing centres.

He said when the road is completed economic activities, especially in agriculture and mining, would be greatly enhanced.

Mr Stephan Frowein, EU Ambassador, pledged the Union's continued support to the country to enhance its economic growth.

He congratulated President Kufuor on his re-election as Chairman of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and said it was a demonstration of the confidence the Member States had in him.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, expressed his gratitude to the Government and the EU for the project, which he said was very dear to the hearts of the people of the Region. He said its completion would accelerate the pace of development of the Region.

Osagyefo Kwamena Enimil IV, earlier in his welcoming address, appealed to the Government to reactivate the Aborso Glass Factory and the Bonsaso Tyre Factory to offer employment to the youth and enhance economic growth of the country.