Agona East communities to enjoy electricity - MP

Agona Kwesitwikrom (C/R), Jan 12, GNA - About 20 communities in the Agona East constituency in the Central Region will benefit under the first two phases of the Self-Help Electrification Project (SHEP) of the Rural Electrification Programme.

Mr John Kwesi Agyabeng, MP for the area announced this in a speech read on his behalf at a fund raising harvest in aid of an electrification project organised by the Chiefs and the people of Agona Kwesitwekrom.

The occasion coincided with annual Akwambo Festival in the area to take stock of the past and to plan development projects in the town. Mr Agyabeng said the first phase covering Agona Esuso, Mensakwa and other towns had been awarded on contract while the second phase for Kwesitwekrom, Asamoakrom, Somanya, Otwekrom and Nyasakireh would be given on contract in March this year.

He noted that the extension of electricity to the communities would facilitate the establishment of small and medium scale enterprises to improve the living standards of the people and to attract investors. The MP said the government had kept faith with the people, adding that the introduction of micro financing especially to the market women was to enable them to expand their businesses.

Nana Kwesi Twe IV, Chief of the town, expressed concern about the inability of farmers in the area to have access to credit under the government's poverty reduction strategy.

He said the road from Agona Kwanyako to Gomoa Buduatta was in a deplorable state, which made it difficult for farmers to send their produce to the marketing centres and appealed to the government to rehabilitate it.

The Chief stated that the bridge over River Ayensu at the outskirts of Agona Fawomanye had become a death trap posing a threat to travellers and urged the Agona District Assembly to renovate educational infrastructure at Otwekrom, Okotokrom and Kwesitwekrom. He said this would enhance the quality of education in the area, adding that, children from Okotokrom walk many miles to attend school at Kwesitwekrom.

Mr Albert Quainoo, Secretary of the Project Implementation Committee, said the people had purchased six wooden poles for the electricity project and appealed to citizens resident outside the area for assistance.

He said a levy of 70,000 cedis had been imposed on the people to facilitate the speedy completion of the project Mr Quainoo commended Plan Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) for providing 39 modern household toilets in the town to ensure sanitation and appealed to the organisation to extend the facility to houses not covered.

Mr Ben Mensah, District Chief Executive (DCE), assured the chiefs and people of the area that the bridge over River Ayensu would be reconstructed this year.

He praised the people for their communal spirit and urged communities in the district to emulate them to raise their living standard.