Tamale, Feb, 25, GNA - The World Bank has made available 4-million dollars to the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly for execution of various development projects in the Metropolis to facilitate its beautification programme.

The money was sourced through the International Development Association (IDA) and was also meant to improve the road sector development programme in the Metropolis.

Other areas that the grant was meant to develop are the Tamale Metropolitan Area sanitation and electrification projects and were geared towards the improvement of the Tamale Beautification Projects.

Mr. Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) disclosed this at the weekend in Tamale at a sod cutting ceremony to commence the Tamale Street lighting project. Mr. Adam said about 4.2 million cedis out of the amount would be used for street lighting projects, which was awarded to Messrs Lightingale Limited, an Accra based construction firm and are expected to finish the project within four months.

He said the street lighting would extend to the "Afa Ajura" mosque area and stretch to NORRIP Village through the Gumani junction as well as from the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) area to SSNIT flats and Lamashegu roundabout to Nyohini and would also cover the new Stadium area.

Mr. Adam said streetlight plays an important role in a city's development indicating that the Metropolis was prepared to welcome various dignitaries for the Ghana's 50th anniversary and the CAN 2008 tournament.

He said the Metropolis would soon benefit from a package of construction of a seven public toilet facilities in different communities, including water closets for the Central and Aboabo markets. Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister, who cut the sod for the commencement of work expressed gratitude to the (IDA), and the World Bank for the gesture and expressed the hope that the money would be put to good use.

He said the jubilee anniversary has brought enormous benefits to the country, adding that work on the Tamale police park, which is to be the modern jubilee park is almost completed and other projects such as the Jubilee model toilets, model kindergarten and primary schools were also near completion. Alhaji Idris appealed to the people to take good care of the projects by forming watchdog committees to impact positively on the developmental programmes in the region.