Kumasi, July 31, GNA- About 5,000 wood workers in Kumasi would be relocated at the Sokoban Wood Village in the city, to pave way for the implementation of the Kumasi Roads and Urban Development Project. Madam Patricia Appiagyei, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, announced this at a durbar organized by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Tuesday, to sensitise the Sokoban community about the intended relocation exercise and the project.

She said the KMA had acquired a 12.35 hectare land at Sokoban, which was being developed into an industrial estate that would have access roads, sheds and stores, an administrative block and a modern car park if completed.

Madam Appiagyei said the facilities would be used by the wood workers at a fee to be paid to the KMA.

She said the relocation would create more jobs for the youth and improve the living conditions of the area.

Madam Appiagyei appealed to land owners to take advantage of the exercise to provide other facilities and services such as warehouses, showrooms, commercial and residential accommodation. "Let us all as partners in development pledge to support this project and contribute our individual and collective efforts to ensure its successful implementation."

During an open forum, the people expressed happiness about the project and hoped that it will improve their living conditions. They appealed to the KMA to ensure that most of the youth in the area were employed and called for the improvement of the road network and electricity supply in the area.

The project include the construction of the Oforikrom-Asokwa bypass, Lake Road improvement, inter-change at Timber Gardens, landscaping of Aboabo river bank at Anloga and development of Sokoban Wood Village to resettle wood workers The French Government through Agence Francaise De Development (AFD) would fund the project at the cost of 100 billion cedis. 31 July 07