KEEA Assembly gets assistance from EC to enhance tourism

Elmina, Dec. 30, GNA - The Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) District Assembly will by early next year undertake the rehabilitation of monumental buildings including Fort Saint Jago in Elmina, as the second phase of the Elmina Cultural Heritage and Management Programme (ERCHMP) to enhance the town's tourism potentials.

The programme, which is being funded by the European Commission with an amount of 1.5 million Euros with support from the Dutch government, also involves the re-construction of 40 other buildings of historical importance.

The District Chief Executive, Nana Ato Arthur made this known at the last ordinary session of the assembly for the year, at Elmina on Thursday.

According to him, the assembly's sister-city relationship with Gouda in the Netherlands, has also been beneficial to the district, and that in addition to the provision of two pick-ups and computers, the city has also sponsored the assembly's monitoring team to a capacity building workshop in the Netherlands.

Nana Arthur said the assembly's overall performance could be rated among the best district assemblies in the country, in terms of provision of development projects.

He said, for instance, it was able to complete all European Union (EU) assisted projects in the district, while work on four HIPC projects including the construction of classroom blocks and toilets at Aburansa, Abrem-Ankaase and Berase are progressing.

Nana Arthur announced that, the assembly has been able to source more funds from the EU and major hotels in the district for more projects to improve upon the lot of the people. He took the opportunity to thank the staff of the assembly and people in the district for cooperating with him to facilitate the development of the area.

The DCE also congratulated the President for his re-election and prayed for God's guidance for him in his second term of office. The presiding member, Mr Frank Appiah appealed to Ghanaians to put the elections and its "attendant acrimonies" behind them and forge ahead in unity and love towards national development. He also urged the assembly members to work in unity and cooperation to help solve the development problems of the assembly.