Upgrading of Central Regional Hospital underway- President

Cape Coast, Sept. 4, GNA - Construction of facilities to upgrade the Central Regional Hospital into a teaching hospital is underway, to enable students at the University of Cape Coast Medical School (UCCSMS) to carry out their clinical studies in Cape Coast. Currently, a teaching centre, reading room, office blocks and pavilions for student's relaxation are being constructed, whiles facilities like an auditorium and a diagnostic centre will be added later.

President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills gave the hint at a grand durbar to round off activities marking this years Oguaa Fetu Afahye festival of the chiefs and people of the Cape Coast traditional area on Saturday.

The colourful durbar, which saw chiefs richly adorned in regalia and carried in palanquins, whiles the seven "Asafo" companies displayed through the principal streets of the town, was attended by people from all walks of life including, ministers of state, members of parliament, district chief executives, party functionaries, tourists and the general public.

The President said he was moved and offered to assist in upgrading the hospital, when the Dean of the UCCSMS, Professor Harold Amonoo-Kwofie approached him with a request that if the Regional Hospital was not developed into a teaching hospital, its students will be compelled to carry out their clinical work at the teaching hospitals in Accra and Kumasi.

President Mills gave the assurance that he will not renege on his campaign promises to Cape Coasters in particular and Ghanaians in general.

Prof Mills said he will ensure that all the promises were executed to bring the desired and needed development to the nation. He said during his recent visit to Switzerland, Mr. Sepp Blatter, FIFA President gave the assurance that FIFA will construct a football centre of hope for the youth in Cape Coast.

President Mills urged the people of Cape Coast to eschew conflicts and rather pursue development, whiles contributing their quota to the accelerated development of the Metropolis and the nation. He stressed that there was no need for Ghanaians to engage in conflict because they are one people and asked the public to continue praying for his success.

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe, said the Mills government had been in office for just 18 months but there were positive signs that the lost glory of the town will soon be regained because government had put measures in place to address issues that retard the progress of the area.

Among the measures she enumerated were the creation of land banks to attract investors, the recruitment of more city guards to enforce sanity in the Metropolis and the expansion of the Youth Employment Programme to create more jobs for the youth.

She said the Cape Coast-Ankaful-Elmina and the Cape Coast-OLA-University culverts, which were damaged after a heavy downpour last year have been repaired whiles a police station had been built at Kotokuraba to check the crime rate there. Mrs Benyiwa-Doe said the region had benefited from 46 new educational infrastructure constructed to expand facilities at the Senior High Schools.

The Minister commended the chiefs of the area for co-existing peacefully and cooperating with her office, which had culminated in the successful execution of her duties and added that, it was through peace that development would be attained. The Oguaamanhen, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, called for the review of the school's computerized selection programme, which he described as unfavourable because it does not give recognition to the 30% quota for indigenes.

He appealed to the President to as a matter of urgency, source funds for the dredging of the Fosu lagoon, the construction of a new market and the sport stadium, to give Cape Coast a facelift. Among the dignitaries who attended the function were Ms Hanna Tetteh, Mr Mike Hammah and Mr. Mark Wayongo, the Ministers of Trade and Industry, Transport and the Upper East Regional Minister respectively. Others present were Mr Ebo Barton-Odro, Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney General and Member of Parliament for Cape Coast. Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins, Mayor of Cape Coast and the Presidential candidate for the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his entourage. 04 Sept. 10