Donkorkrom (E/R) Oct. 16, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama has commissioned a 3.9 billion cedi-water project for the people of Donkorkrom, the capital of the Afram Plains District and expressed the hope that potable water supply would end the high incidence of guinea worm and other water borne diseases that are endemic in the area. He also commissioned a 600 million-cedi school block for the Presbyterian Primary School and similar facilities for the Asikasu L/A Primary School and Nana Baadu Junior Secondary Schools, with a pledge that free education and school uniforms would be provided at the basic level for pupils in the district.

Addressing a durbar held in his honour, Vice President Mahama expressed concern about the poor level of infrastructural development in the district, saying it was unfair that an area, which contributed so much to national food security, would lack basic amenities to make life bearable.

About 20 trucks of foodstuffs, mainly yams, fish and livestock, reportedly leave the district daily to other parts of the country even though more than half of the 534 communities are inaccessible by vehicles other than tractors. Consequently, post harvest losses are very high.

Vice President Mahama, however, pledged the Government's commitment to continuously invest in roads, agriculture, education, health and other fields to make life better for the people.

The water project, which was funded jointly by Germany, the Government and the community, would distribute water directly to 223 households and 19 standpipes at Donkorkrom and Adembra. The Vice President urged the people to maintain the facility in a hygienic and sustainable manner.

Other communities like Ekye Amanfrom and Mim, he said, would also be soon supplied with potable water under a five billion-cedi project, as part of efforts to eradicate the guinea worm disease.

He advised the people to send their children to school for their personal development and that of their communities, saying efforts to fight poverty would not yield maximum results unless their children were empowered to play active roles in national development.

He assured them that their request be included in the President's Special Initiative on Cassava would be discussed with the Ministry of Trade, Industry and PSI and other relevant organisations for the necessary action to be taken.

The Gyasehene of Donkorkrom, Nana Akuamoah Boateng II, expressed gratitude to the Government for initiating projects to rehabilitate roads and provide drains in the town and those that link it, saying transportation was becoming easier with better prospects for agricultural production.

He, however, called for the monitoring of the contractors, especially Mayakom Limited, which is tarring the five-kilometre town roads at 2.7 billion cedis, to deliver quality job in good time. Nana Akuamoah Boateng was also grateful for the school buildings and provision of furniture, which was attracting more teachers and pupils as well as for the improvement in their hospital's equipment and staff position.

He appealed to the Government to extend electricity to Amankwah Secondary School.

Vice President Mahama, who was at Afram Plains as part of a working visit to the Eastern Region, was accompanied by Mr Fred Asante, Eastern Region's representative on the Council of State, Regional Minister Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah and his Deputy, Mr Gustav Narh Dormetey, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, Dr Charles Brempong-Yeboah and other public officials.