Kwabeng (E/R), March 25, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Wednesday inaugurated some education and power projects in four communities in the East Akyem district during a working visit to the area.

He also cut the sod for rehabilitation work to begin on the second phase of the Kwabeng-Akyem Akropong road, which links major cocoa and foodstuffs growing areas. The five-kilometre road would cost more than five billion cedis.

The education projects comprise a 190 million-cedi primary school block for the Islamic School at Anyinam, financed from the HIPC Benefit Fund, and a 496 million-cedi Girls Hostel for the Anglican Secondary Technical School at Kwabeng.

The hostel, which would accommodate 120 students, was financed from the district Assembly's Common Fund.

The electricity projects were inaugurated in two communities - Bomaa and Tumfa. The District Assembly assisted the two communities to finance the projects at 55 million cedis and 60 million cedis respectively.

Addressing separate durbars of enthusiastic crowds in the beneficiary communities, Vice President Mahama assured the chiefs and people of the government's determination to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians, especially those in rural communities.

"You deserve better than you have for your hard work," he told them. "The Government would, therefore, continue to implement development projects that would improve your lot". He explained that his visit, which formed part of the government's outreach programme, was to solicit their views in order to serve their needs better.

Vice President Mahama urged them to take education seriously by developing active interest in their children's work at school, adding that education was a potent tool for fighting poverty and achieving self-advancement.

He said many past and present national leaders were born and bred in rural communities, which had some level of deprivation but they were able to excel in their careers because they embraced education. He, particularly, advised the Islamic Community to adopt secular education so that their students would find it easier to integrate into mainstream society and contribute their quota toward national development.

The Vice President urged eligible citizens to register before the March 29 deadline for the current voter registration exercise to enable them elect their own representatives.

He asked them to report troublemakers to the Police and the District Security Committee, saying everything should be done to ensure that the impending campaign and elections were peaceful.

Vice President Mahama appealed to the chiefs, who he said, were partners in development, to support the Government's programme to bring progress and prosperity to their areas.

He assured them that the Government would assist the newly created Atiwa district, whose capital would be at Kwabeng, with necessary infrastructure befitting its status.

Osabarima Darkwa Woe II, Chief of Kwabeng, thanked the Government for the projects being implemented in the district.

He, however, expressed concern about the negative activities of chainsaw operators and called for assistance from the government to halt the practice.

The Chief of Asiakwa, Osabarima Agyeman II, also commended the Government for the projects being implemented in his area and called for further assistance to complete a hospital building, which was at the lintel level.

Other chiefs who attended the durbar were Bomaahene Nana Ampofo Wiredu II and the Ankobeahene of Anyinam, Nana Agyeman. The Vice President was accompanied by Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Yaw Birempong Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing, who is MP for the area and other public officials. 25 Mar. 04

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