Otwenkwanta (E/R), Jan. 31, GNA - Twenty-two communities in the West Akyem District are to be connected to the national electricity grid this year as part of government's programme to extend electricity to all parts of the country.

Mr Kwabena Sintim-Aboagye, District Chief Executive (DCE), made this known when he interacted with the chiefs and people of Otwenkwanta, Nyankomasekrom, Nyankomase Junction, Oworam, Kwametia and Betom, as part of his familiarization tour of the District.

He said the programme was being made possible with external assistance from the Indian and Japanese governments, adding that the Indian government had made a grant of 45 million US dollars consisting of 30 million dollars in cash and 15 million dollars in electrical equipment.

The DCE said the Japanese government would assist in the development of mini-hydro projects.

Mr Sintim-Aboagye further announced that the Spanish Government had also made available five million dollars for the development of solar energy, to supply electricity to remote communities that are too far away from the national grid.

On education, he said the government was determined to improve the quality from the basic to the tertiary levels by making adequate facilities available.

He announced that the District Assembly had received 25 television sets for distribution to schools to promote the President's Special Initiative on Distance Education.

Mr Sintim-Aboagye said the Assembly had plans to assist brilliant but needy school children and to sponsor teachers and nursing trainees who on completion of their courses, would be bonded to serve in the District for a period.

He mentioned human resource, private sector development and good governance as the three pillars of President J A Kufuor's administration, saying the youth were being equipped with skills for self-advancement to enable them to contribute effectively to the growth of the national economy.

The chiefs and people in the communities Mr Sintim Aboagye visited pledged their support for the District Assembly and the government for their programmes to improve the quality of life of Ghanaians, especially those in the rural areas.