Sunyani April 13, GNA - The Information Service Department in Brong Ahafo has advised people not to rush to change their monies when the redenomination of the country's currency begins in July since there is no deadline for the exchange.

Staff of the department explained during a 20-day intensive educational programme in all the 19 districts in the region that even when the exercise ends in December, people would still have the opportunity to go to the banks to exchange the old currency. The programme was sponsored by the Bank of Ghana.

Mr. Bossman Amoh-Poku, Regional Director, briefing newsmen on Thursday about the programme said it was 93a huge success as the people exhibited enthusiasm and their response was very encouraging".

He said the Department however warned the people to beware of unscrupulous persons who would approach them to exchange their monies for them, to avoid being swindled or cheated by such persons. "We advised there would be no need for them to contact intermediaries in the exchange of their monies since they could go to the banks as individuals to change their monies", the regional director added.

Mr. Amoh-Poku said the people were also eager to see specimens of the new currency but the department gave the as surance that 93very soon" the Central Bank would issue them out.

He said there would be a second phase of the educational programme, during which a documentary prepared by the central bank would be screened to the people.

"The Department took the opportunity and appealed to the general public, particularly traders and tradesmen to handle the new currency to avoid their mutilation or getting too dirty," Mr. Amoh-Poku added. The regional director said the department also asked the people to contact the nearest banks or district information offices for further clarifications or more information about the new currency.

In another development, the chiefs and people of Busunya in Nkoranza North raised about 50 million cedis in pledges and cash at a special Easter fund raising harvest towards some development projects. The projects include the drainage system in the town, construction of a community centre and stocking the library of Busunya Secondary School with books.

honoured a prominent citizen, Professor Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, Principal of Sunyani Polytechnic and the former MP for Nkoranza North, Mr. Eric Amoateng, for their immense contributions to the development of the area.

Two streets in the town have been named after them.

Non-resident citizens of the town are paying a special levy of 60,000 cedis each, whilst male residents and female residents are paying 20,000 cedis and 10,000 cedis respectively towards the projects. Nana Okofo Nyarko Gyabaa II, chief of the town appealed to the government to help rehabilitate the Nkoranza-Busunya-Dromankese road to facilitate the movement of the people and their produce. 13 April 07