THE outgoing Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Baah -Wiredu, has cut the sod for the construction of a two-storey police station block and Police barracks at Sekyedumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The projects, which are being sponsored by Sekyedumase citizens, based in the United States of America, will be constructed in two phases.

They are estimated to cost about ?1.6 billion, and will be completed within three years time to facilitate the promotion of law and order in the area.

The construction of the police station and the barracks will make it possible for the community, which is the second largest in the Ejura-Sekyedumase District to have adequate police personnel detailed in the area.

The sod-cutting ceremony coincided with a fund-raising ceremony in support of an educational endowment fund launcheed by the Sekyedumasihene, Nana Antwi Buosiako, two years ago to facilitate the development of education in the community and its environs.

In an address, Mr Baah-Wiredu commended the sponsors of the projects for their sense of selflessness and urged the community to support the project by undertaking regular communal labour to ensure early completion on schedule.

He said the commencement of the police station and the barracks is a testimony that Ghanaians are ready to support the government in diverse ways to ensure effective socio- economic development of the country.

Mr Baah-Wiredu commended Nana Antwi Buosiako for establishing the educational fund and urged the people to support it to make it possible for them to assist brilliant but needed students in the community.

He said available statistics indicate that enrolment of students in educational institutions from the basic to the tertiary levels in the area is very low.

In his welcoming address, Nana Antwi Buosiako said so far the educational endowment fund launched two years ago, has provided assistance to 144 students.

He said last year, for example, the Board of Trustees of the fund provided ?4.7 million to assist students in the JSS , SSS and the tertiary levels of education in the area.

He said this made it possible for those in the SSS level in particular, to do very well in their final examinations in order to qualify for the universities and other tertiary institutions.

He said this year, the board is spending ?10 million to sponsor 74 students at various educational levels. He urged the beneficiaries to justify the sponsorship by devoting much time to their academic work, saying, "any lapses in your academic work would compel the board to withdraw the package".

Nana Antwi Boasiako urged the community to take advantage of the educational fund by encouraging their wards to study hard so as to acquire the needed skills to contribute to the development of the community in particular and the country as a whole in the future.

He also urged them to contribute to the fund to make it more sustainable to cater for many qualified students in future.