Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday cut the sod for work to begin on 186 billion cedis 50 kilometre Tapa-Abotoase-Asukawkaw road, which forms part of the 249 kilometre Kpandu-Worawora-Dambai-Kete-Krachi road in the Volta Region.

The Vice President said when completed, the 249-kilometre road would be the longest road to be tackled in one region and serve as the shortest corridor between the South and North of the country.

The first phase of the project, covering a distance of 50 kilometres from Kpandu through Nkonya and being executed by Bilfinger Berger of Germany, was completed in January this year.

Vice President Mahama, who was on a three-day tour of the Volta Region, assured that the government was mobilising funds to ensure the successful execution of the entire project estimated to cost 75 million dollars.

He urged Bilfinger Berger to provide quality work and to meet its 26 months deadline.

Alhaji Mahama also commissioned six fibreglass boats worth 1.8 billion cedis also at Tapa-Abotoase to facilitate health delivery in communities along the Volta Lake.

Vice President Mahama reiterated government's commitment to equitable provision of socio-economic infrastructure and other projects to improve the lots of Ghanaians.

He said: "Government is determined to address the imbalances in the country to improve the quality of life of all Ghanaians. In this connection we have decided on a precise set of priorities that must be pursued within the medium-term framework. And these include vigorous infrastructure development and enhanced social services with special emphasis on education and health."

Vice-President Mahama appealed to communities along the route to bear the inconveniences that the project would cause them since the benefits on completion of the work would atone for the problems.

Vice President Mahama said other road projects, including the Sokode-Bame, Sokode- Abutia, Kpedze-Dzolokpuita and Juapong-Adidome roads were also being rehabilitated.

Regarding health delivery in island communities on the Volta Lake, the Vice-President said the people deserved good quality and regular services hence the need for the fibreglass boats.

Vice-President Mahama, therefore, called for the training of the personnel, who would be asked to manage the boats to ensure their proper maintenance and longer lifespan.

He called on private boat operators on the lake to adhere to prescribed safety standards to prevent loss of lives and property on the lake.

Alhaji Mahama advised chiefs and people in the region to direct their resources and energies towards development as a way of supplementing government's efforts at improving on their lives rather than on land and chieftaincy disputes.

"I wish to appeal in particular to the chiefs and people of Nkonya, Alavanyo, Peki, Tsito and Nkwanta and all other communities in the Volta region who are involved in land and chieftaincy disputes to use the appropriate institutional arrangements to resolve them and not to take the law into their own hands", he said.Dr Richard Anane, Minister of Roads and Highways said 84 kilometres of roads would be rehabilitated in the region this year under the HIPC funds in addition to those to be funded by government and the country's development partners.

He asked Bilfinger Berger to make provision for utility service lines in the course of its work to avoid damage to the road when it comes to providing such services.

Alhaji Rashid Bawa, Minister of State, Ministry of Education Youth and Sports, said efforts were being made to supply free school uniforms to pupils in line with the Free Compulsory Universal Basic Education programme.

He said each of the 1.2 million pupils in the country would be supplied with English, Mathematics and core Science textbooks by the end of next year.

Alhaji Bawa said technical and vocational institutes would be established in each district to train those interested in such disciplines while 50 billion cedis youth fund had been approved by cabinet to support the youth in income generating activities.

Nana Boateng III, Chief of Tapa-Abotoase commended the government for providing funds for the road project and appealed for a good landing bays along the Volta Lake to reduce accidents.

The Vice-President's entourage included Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister, Mr Moses Dani Baah, deputy Minister of Health, Mr Adjei Boye, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Ms Esther Dzifa Ofori, Chief Executive of Ghana Trade Fair Authority and District Chief Executives.