Volta Agitations Force Government To Act On Promises

IT APPEARS the agitation and criticisms by the chiefs and some youth in the Volta region is yielding some results as government is feverishly working to fulfill the many campaign promises it made to people of the region. Vice President, John Mahama who opened the Volta Regional Fair on behalf of President Mills Wednesday has promised people of the region that government will cut the sod for work to commence on the eastern corridor road before the end of 2011. He added that the University of Health and Allied Sciences is also on course and that the fact that there are no physical structures did not mean the project has been neglected. He added that the project will surely begin by the end the year. He noted that the project is on course and called for patience saying �if you live in a palace and there are some drummers approaching the Palace you don�t run out to meet them because they will surely get to your house.� Government as well as some political heads have come under pressure following some criticisms by traditional heads and youth in the region over what they described as government�s neglect of their �World Bank.� The main concerns of the people have been the stalled eastern corridor road, Ho township roads and the University for Health and Allied Sciences. Vice President Mahama noted that there is more than enough money to start the University project however what was delaying it was the processing. He noted that the bill for the legislation for the university has been gazetted awaiting approval by parliament immediately it returns from recess. Ten million dollars from the Chinese Exem Bank facility has been allocated for the university. As soon as all processes have been completed, work will start on the university, he explained. On the eastern corridor road he mentioned that tender for the project was opened on August 3 this year and the contractor is to be selected for work to commence. Mr. Mahama said a negotiating team from Brazil will be visiting the country for finalize agreements for $250 million for a portion of the project from Oti through Damanko to Yendi. In the meantime, the president has ordered a $100 million facility for the Asikuma-Have-Hohoe road, he said. He also mentioned the construction of a landing site at Keta and Ada among other projects being under taken by government. With regards to the fair, he noted that it will serve as living proof of government�s commitment to the region and the country as a whole and also convince all �Doubting Thomases� about what government has done in the last two and a half years.