Takoradi, April 04, GNA - Twenty-One Urban Road projects were completed in the Western Region last year at a cost of 104.2 billion cedis.

Among them were the Inchaban-Sekondi-Adiembra road and the Africana Road in Takoradi.

Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, announced this at "meet the press" series in Takoradi on Tuesday. He said 30 urban road projects had been earmarked for rehabilitation this year at a cost of 26.9 billion cedis including reconstruction of the Fijai by-pass. Mr Aidoo said reconstruction of trunk roads in the region including the Apimanin-Tarkwa road, which was about 76 per cent had been completed were on course.

He noted that although work had delayed because the area was waterlogged, quality of work was satisfactory. Mr Aidoo said by 2001, not a single feeder road in the region was tarred but by 2005, nine feeder roads totalling 61.3 kilometres had been tarred at a cost of 43.04 billion cedis. He said 16 bridges sponsored by the British and Dutch Governments at a cost of 43.5 billion cedis were under construction in 12 districts within the region.

Mr Aidoo said phase one of the Shama Coastal protection Works had been completed and the Ngyeresia Coastal Protection Works had began.

Mr Aidoo said all district capitals in the region would be provided with telephone exchanges this year.

He said existing telephone exchanges would be expanded in line with the Government's policy to boost ICT-connectivity to at least a senior secondary school in each district.

Mr Aidoo said seven towns in the region that enjoyed fixed telephones were, Sekondi-Takoradi, Elubo, Enchi, Axim, Samreboi, Asankrangwa and Tarkwa, adding that Half Assini would be catered for this year.

He said Mobile Cell-sites would be connected under the 2006 rollout programme at Bogoso, Inchaban, Prestea, Sefwi Wiawso, Kojokrom, Juabeso Bia and Mpohor Wassa East Districts.

Mr Aidoo said GSM Mobile Cell-sites were operational in 16 areas in the region.

They are Sekondi, Takoradi, Tarkwa, Bibiani, Apowa, Asankrangwa, Axim, Half Assini and Awiabo.

He said the rural electrification programme was on course in the region and about 99 communities would benefit from the programme this year.

Mr Aidoo said upgrading of transformers and network improvement started last year in Sekondi-Takoradi, Half Assini, Axim, Wiawso and Juabeso, while upgrading and improvement projects would continue this year in Takoradi, Tarkwa, Axim, Bibiani and Half Assini.

He said the Ghana Water Company would undertake two major projects involving the laying of pipelines in Sekondi and Takoradi at a cost of 6.6 billion cedis this year.

Mr Aidoo said the company was currently undertaking extension of water supply and sewerage lines to the new Sekondi Stadium at a cost of 11.5 billion cedis.

He said last year, the company laid a 20-kilometre pipeline along the Axim Junction-Tarkwa road at a cost of 42.2 billion cedis.