Govt to provide development infrastructure

Backpage, Friday, Feb 19, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday unveiled plans to provide infrastructure and improve agricultural production as part of efforts to raise the standard of living in the country.
Delivering his maiden State of the Nation Address in Parliament, the President said his administration would renew efforts to improve the housing stock for workers in the country.
“In line with our philosophy of social equity, we will ensure equitable distribution of houses constructed under the affordable housing programme,” the President stated.
He said as part of efforts to accelerate national development and enhance regional integration, his administration had proposed to fast-track the West Africa Transport and Transit Project, which would improve sections of the Central Corridor from Kintampo to Paga.
He added that work on the Eastern Corridor project, which would improve the Tema-Yendi-Tamale road links, would also be expedited while the Bole-Bamboi road would be completed. The President further stated that work on the entire Western Corridor would also be completed.
He said infrastructure to be provided in the health sector included a 100-bed general hospital with malaria research centre at Teshie, regional hospital with staff housing at Wa and six district hospitals with staff housing at Adenta/Madina, Twifo Praso, Konongo-Odumase, Wenchi, Tepa and Salaga.
The President said there were also plans to construct two district hospitals at Bekwai and Tarkwa and Blood Transfusion Centres in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale.
In the agriculture sector, the President said the Aveyime Rice Project would be restored to boost rice production for internal consumption and for export. He added that large-scale food production ventures would be initiated in all the regions.
“We will move beyond rhetoric and execute a programme to rehabilitate existing irrigation schemes to ensure their efficient utilisation,” he said.
He said the government would construct additional dams, boreholes and other water harvesting facilities in areas with high agricultural potential.
He said the government would pursue a policy of direct intervention to make available production inputs for small farmers on credit.
The President stated that to address the situation of cheap poultry and meat imports, large-scale cultivation of maize and soya beans would be supported to drastically reduce the cost of feed for poultry production.
Prof. Mills said the government would provide funds in the budget to revamp science resource centres in some selected schools in the course of the year.