President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday called on the youth of the country to desist from the practice of blocking roads and burning car tyres to call for construction of their roads.
He said much as government had the responsibility to provide infrastructure for her citizens including roads, such provisions could not be done simultaneously in the country.
"I want to therefore call on the youth to exercise restraint for government to provide the roads for all communities in the coming years,"President Mahama added.
President Mahama said this when he commissioned a 60km rehabilitated Assin-Asante Bekwai Road at Praso in the Central Region as part of the his two-day official visit to the region.
The road which was funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency is a two-way, two lane single carriage way with sub base course of 200 mm of gravel material and 140 mm of asphaltic concrete.
The funding was in response to government's request to the Japanese government in 2006, after which an agreement was eventually signed in 2009 to rehabilitate the road.
The President said under the second phase of anti- galamsey programme, government would embark on a reclaiming exercise where the youth would be paid to plant trees to reclaim the destroyed lands.
He appealed to other stakeholders including chiefs to cooperate with government to successfully carry out the anti- galamsey programme to stem the perennial destruction of lands in the country.
President Mahama commended the Japanese government for supporting government in road construction and other sectors of the economy and promised to continue to liaise with the Japanese government for support in succeeding years.
The President, who earlier visited and interacted with chiefs and people of Anyanfuri and Dunkwa-on- Offin in the region called on the youth who were interested in mining to acquire the necessary licenses and documents to engage in the industry.
Mr Naoto Nikai, Japanese Ambassador to Ghana pledged the support of his government in the socio-economic development of Ghana.
He said apart from the sector, the Japanese government would also support Ghana in the areas of energy, agriculture among other areas of cooperation.
Nana Awudo Aseku, Paramount Chief of Assin Praso commended government for the construction of road and a bailey bridge in the township.
He appealed to government to put up a toll booth in the town to enable the authorities to acquire the necessary funding that would enable them to carry out routine maintenance of the facility.
<<Print>>