Bongo (U/R), July 27, GNA - Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Tuesday expressed concern about the undue delay in the tarring of the 12-kilometre Bolgatanga - Bongo link road.

The road project, being executed by The Progressive Modern Company is executing the project estimated to cost 17 billion cedis scheduled for completion in September 2004 is only 35 per cent through. Alhaji Mahama, who is on a working tour of the Upper East Region, said the delay of the project had discredited the Government since President John Agyekum Kufuor had promised to get it completed on time. The Vice President was responding to an appeal by the Regent of Bongo, Bonaba Razak Assibi Nder to get the project completed to avoid the number of motor accidents and a planned protest by the youth, during an interaction with the people in the Bongo District. At a meeting with the Contractor, he complained about the piling of sand on a long stretch of the road, which he said could lead to accidents.

Alhaji Mahama, who is an Engineer by Profession and a Contractor, expressed doubt about the capacity of the construction firm to execute the project due to the inadequacy of equipment on site. He asked the Management of the Company to improve on its operational capacity or write officially to get the project reviewed.

Bonaba Ndor asked the Government to construct a bridge on the Bongo to Gorigo and Bongo to Beo Roads and upgrade and equip the local Police station into a district facility in order to enhance the enforcement of law and order.

He also appealed for the review of the 250 million cedis mandatory share ownership required by the community to qualify to operate a rural bank.

Alhaji Mahama inspected a 1.4 billion cedis hostel facility at Bongo Senior Secondary School provided by the District Assembly. He told the cheering students that the School would be provided with information, communication and technology facilities as part of efforts to upgrade it into a modern academic facility.

The Headmaster, Peter Akuto appealed for an assembly hall, science laboratory and a computer library to facilitate teaching and learning. At Bolgatanga, the Vice President handed over nine tractors, which is the first consignment of 21 tractors allocated to the Region at a subsidize price of 160 million cedis each to beneficiaries. He asked the beneficiaries to assist smallholder farmers in their localities with tractor services to improve on their production. Alhaji Mahama said the Region would be self sufficient in food production if farmers there used the White Volta to irrigate their farms.

Mr Roy Ayariga, Regional Director of Food and Agriculture, said the tractors were part of the 250 of the 1,000 being imported by the Government.

Mr George Alokodongo, 1996 National Best Farmer, appealed for low interest credit facility to assist farmer based organizations to be able to do all-year-round farming. During a visit to Navrongo, Alhaji Mahama said the Government had committed 1.6 billion cedis to realign canals at the Tono Irrigation Project.

Three million Dollars is needed to rehabilitate the canals. Alhaji Mahama, who inspected projects at the Navrongo Campus of the University for Development Studies, told the Applied Science Students that the Government had contracted 50 million euro loan to upgrade the Tamale Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital to enhance their training.

The Vice President inaugurated block of three classrooms for Kongwania Primary School built at the cost of 250 million cedis. It was funded by the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Fund. He later inspected work on the 7.3 billion-cedis Community Nurses' Training School in the Kassena-Nankana District, which comprised dormitory, road network, fencing and a classroom block. Alhaji Mahama also interacted with the workers and Management of the Irrigation Company of Upper Region and the Chief and people of Paga, where he reaffirmed his commitment to help to find solution to the development setbacks afflicting them.