Govt signs two agreements with Dutch govt for water supply.

Komenda, (C/R),Nov. 9, GNA- The government has signed two separate agreements with the Dutch government for the provision of regular water supply in the Cape Coast municipality and its environs. These are a 41.6 million Euros Pra River water project and a 2.5 million Euros Brimsu River desilting project.

President John Agyekum Kufuor, who announced this on Tuesday, said the contract for the Pra River project, would be signed before the end of the year.

He was addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) district as part of a three-day tour of the Central Region.

President Kufuor said the government, this year, allocated 3.2 billion cedis to the district to promote the PSI on salt. He gave the assurance that the establishment of a fishing harbour at Elmina and a landing beach for the fishermen of Komenda, were on course.

On the re-activation of the Komenda sugar factory, the President said in line with other companies on divestiture, the government was looking for "strategic partners" to take over the companies and re-activate them to create jobs for the people.

He stressed the government's determination to rehabilitate roads in the district for easy accessibility, and expressed appreciation to the chiefs and people for their encouragement to the government to continue with its performance, since 2001.

President Kufuor, also pledged the government's determination to restore confidence in the Ghanaian to develop the country. Nana Kodwo Kru II, Omanhen of Komenda, described the President's visit, as historic, and commended the government for improving their standard of living, since its assumption of power.

He appealed to the government for the re-activation of the abandoned Komenda sugar factory to create jobs for the youth in the area, and for the establishment of a landing beach in the town. Nana Kru, further, appealed for the rehabilitation of the town's roads, development of tourists attractions in the area and the provision of staff bungalows for the Komenda training college.

On his part, the Omanhen of the Eguafo traditional area and president of the Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kwamina Ansah IV, called on the government to establish the Elmina fishing harbour, which has been on the drawing board for a long time.

According to him, the slave route from Salaga, did not end at Assin Manso, but at the Elmina castle, and therefore the development of the route, from Assin Manso to the Elmina castle, should be included in the rehabilitation of the route, as a tourist attraction.

On Monday, the first day of his visit to the region, President Kufuor, made whistle stops and addressed the chiefs and people at Kasoa, Kwanyako, Swedru, and Awutu-Bawjiase, where he was given a rousing welcome by an enthusiastic and milling crowd. 9 Nov. 04