Wechiau (UWR), Aug 31, GNA - Two Canadian brothers John and Brain Keatings have donated 240 solar panel units valued at 1.5 billion cedis to provide household power for communities that share boundaries with the Wechiau Hippopotamus Sanctuary.

They have also sponsored the drilling of bore-holes for three communities to enable them have access to potable water. The philanthropists announced this at a durbar of the Chiefs and people of the Wechiau Traditional area on Tuesday held in their honour at Wechiau.

They said the gesture was to support the Government to develop the Hippopotamus Sanctuary to become one of the best tourists attractions in West Africa, adding: "Africa is richly blessed with natural resources and we believe when properly harnessed would accelerate development on the Continent."

In addition, they have embarked on a school project to ensure easy access to basic education in the area. Mr. Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister said their contribution towards the development of the Sanctuary would not only put Wechiau and its environs on the world tourism map, but provide them with a recreational centre and a place of scientific study. He said because the Sanctuary was important to the Government and the people, roads had already been constructed to the site while modern hotels with excellent catering services would soon be constructed to cater for tourists.

Mr. Dery appealed to the people to work in unity to attract more assistance for the development of the area. The Sanctuary has a lot of hippopotamus, different species of snakes and birds. 31 Aug.05