President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday inaugurated a small town water project at Fetentaa, in the Berekum Municipality, as part of his two-day working visit to the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The project, constructed at the cost of GH¢ 832,125.42, is among the 15 peri-urban and small town water projects, President Mahama launched in the region in 2009.

He explained that 10 of the water projects, expected to supply about 300,000 people with potable water, had already been completed, indicating that work on the remaining five was steadily progressing, and would be completed by the close of the year.

He said aside these projects, the government had constructed additional 700 mechanized boreholes in the region.

President Mahama noted that road networks, especially those linking cocoa-growing communities, were major national issues, and therefore assured the people that the Berekum-Drobo road would soon be awarded on contract.

He commended the chiefs and people of the Berekum Traditional Area for resolving the protracted chieftaincy dispute in the town.

President Mahama emphasized that since peace was a pre-requisite tool for development, there was the need for the people to cherish and embrace peace for development to thrive.

Dr. Kwaku Agyemang Mensah, the Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, said the government was spending 165 million dollars to provide potable water at Oda, Akwatia and Winneba, 51.5 million dollars at Wa, 11 million euros at Nsawam, and 20 million euros in Cape Coast.

He appealed to the people to ensure regular maintenance of the facility, and asked them to renew the mandate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in election 2016, so that they would benefit from more development projects.

Mr. Eric Opoku, the Regional Minister, said electricity connections had improved drastically in the region, adding that, only five communities in the Berekum Municipality had not been hooked onto the national electricity grid.

Daasebre Dr. Amankona Diawuo, the Paramount Chief of Berekum, noted with concern the deplorable nature of the Berekum-Drobo road, and appealed to President Mahama to give it the urgent attention.

He said though the area had benefited from massive development projects under the NDC government, it needed additional hospital to augment the services of the Berekum Holy Family Hospital in addressing the health needs of the people.