Prez Mahama pays surprise visit to Western Region
President John Dramani Mahama Wednesday paid a surprise working visit to the Western Region, during which he inspected some ongoing infrastructural projects.
He inspected the Takoradi Port expansion project and also interacted with the chiefs and the people of Mpohor in the Mpohor District.
The President, who was accompanied by some ministers of state, said it was important that from time to time he moved from the office to see what was happening on the ground.
On the port expansion project, President Mahama said he was convinced that it would position Ghana as a destination of choice for oil and gas services and also create more jobs.
The Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Captain Richard Anamoo, while conducting the President round the expansion works, told him that work was progressing steadily.
He said the GPHA was determined to ensure that the contractor worked within the stipulated time.
At Mpohor, the Chief of the town, Nana Ekow Ntresie, who received President Mahama in his palace, appealed to him to improve infrastructure in the area because it is a new district.
Land for development
Nana Ntresie said to speed up development in the area and also ensure security in the district, the traditional authorities were ready to release land for the construction of offices for the district administration and the police.
He commended the President for paying a visit to the area and interacting with the chiefs and the people.
President Mahama told the people that there were plans in place to ensure that all cocoa-growing regions in the country benefitted from COCOBOD road construction projects.
“I can assure you that COCOBOD has set aside funds for the reconstruction of the roads in the five cocoa regions and Mpohor roads will not be excluded,” he promised.
Health care/Education
President Mahama said the government was focused on improving healthcare and would ensure that each district had at least a district hospital.
He said the concerns raised were well noted and would be relayed to the respective ministries to ensure that they received the needed attention to improve the lives of the people.
He promised that the concerns raised on education and the release of funds for school projects would be given the needed attention.
The President said even though the GETFund was under stress, he would do everything possible to ensure that projects which needed attention were taken care of.
The Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, assured the people of the region of his administration’s commitment to ensure that all ongoing projects were completed on schedule.