Krobo (Ash), Nov.21, GNA - Mr. Emmanuel Asamoah Owusu-Ansah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, on Wednesday cut the sod for work to begin on the 14.4 kilometre Afrancho-Ntiribuoho-Bomso feeder road in the Afigya-Kwabre District, to facilitate free movement of goods and services.

The road that would be tarred at the cost of 2,700,000 Ghana Cedis by Knatto Contractors would be funded by the Government of Ghana. Speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people at Krobo in the district before cutting the sod, Mr. Owusu-Ansah, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwabre West Constituency, commended the people for supporting government policies and programmes.

He said the government was committed to the judicious distribution of resources adding that it was the turn of Afigya-Kwabre District to have their share of the national cake. Mr. Owusu-Ansah said President John Agyekum Kufuor and the NPP government needed commendation for implementing programmes such as the School Feeding Programme, the Capitation Grant, ensuring freedom of the press and expression, the National Health Insurance Scheme. He called on Ghanaians to reciprocate the gesture by retaining the NPP in power.

Mr. Owusu-Ansah said he had contributed to the development of the constituency and cited road rehabilitation and approval of contracts for the construction of infrastructure for over 15 primary and Senior High Schools as well as the provision of street lights in some communities. He said he had also given scholarships to over 70 students to enable them to continue their education at tertiary institutions. Mr. Owusu-Ansah appealed to the people to retain him as MP in Election 2008 and vote for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, NPP presidential candidate to enable him to continue with the good work of the government.

Mr. Emmanuel Arthur, Managing Director of Knatto Construction Complex, said the construction of the road was overdue but indicated that after tarring the road it would link Offinso to Sunyani. Mr. John Arthur, Assembly Member for Ntiribuoho, commended Mr. Owusu-Ansah for his contribution to the development of the constituency and urged the people to vote massively for the NPP on December 7.