Akrofuom (Ash), Oct 29, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday directed the Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Council to terminate the contract awarded to an Italian firm for the rehabilitation of the 11-kilometre Obuasi-Akrofuom road in the region.

He explained that the commencement of work on the project awarded early this year had been unduly delayed and said it should be re-awarded to a more competent construction firm.

President Kufuor who gave the order when he was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of Akrofuom on the second day of his six-day official tour of the region spoke at similar meetings at Obuasi, Adansi-Asokwa and Tankwase in the Adansi South district.

He appealed to the electorate to ensure that the 2004 Election was conducted in a peaceful, free and fair manner and urged them to vote for the NPP in both the presidential and parliamentary polls.

Nana Okotwareasuo Owusu Nkwantabisa, Odumasehene, appealed to the Government to initiate a face-lift programme for the Obuasi Municipality towards the development of the area to compensate the people for their contribution to development of the country's economy, especially to the mining sector.

He requested the government to establish cottage industries and a fruit-processing factory to create jobs for the people, especially the youth in the area.