Bolgatanga (UE) Jan. 9, GNA - Mr Mark Woyongo, Upper East Regional Minister, at the weekend said Government had secured funds to rehabilitate the Bolgatanga-Bawku road, which has been a source of worry to road users.
The road, which is a major trunk for heavy duty vehicles traveling from the country’s ports to neighbouring Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali and the Northern parts of Togo, has been in a deplorable state for more than four years now.
Mr Woyongo said in view of high cost involved in asphalting the Bolgatanga-Bawku road, the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), has taken short term measures and awarded it on contract for patching until major work starts.
The Minister was speaking at a press soiree organized by the RCC in Bolgatanga, at which RCC officials fraternised with journalists and discussed ways of achieving Government policies for the region in 2012.
He reaffirmed that the work on the Eastern Corridor road network, which linked the region through Bawku to Kulungugu would soon start.
The Minister said Government has sourced funding for work to commence on Bawku-Bolgatanga, Bolgatanga-Bongo, Winkongo-Tongo, Navrongo–Chuchuliga, Pusiga junction roads, and Sandema-Wiesi road.
Mr Woyongo said the capital projects the National Democratic Congress (NDC) pledged in its electioneering would be brought to fruition.
He said massive development would also be witnessed in the health sector, including ambulance services to be established in Garu, Navrongo, Sandema and Zebilla in the Bawku West District to help reduce maternal and child related deaths in the region.
Mr Woyongo said feasibility studies, preliminary design and construction of the region’s water supply system have been provided for
in the 2012 budget,.
He said a treatment plant would be constructed in Tono to increase water distribution to Navrongo, Bolgatanga and Bongo as part of efforts to ease pressure on existing water supply facilities in the region.
Mr Woyongo congratulated journalists for their hard work during 2011 in exposing the region through their reportage.
He asked journalists to be wary of inaccurate information and half truths from sections of the public since it spark conflicts.
Mr Woyongo said: ”If journalism is meant to improve upon societal well being by presenting accurate and reliable information to the populace, then the sources of that information should not be doubted”.
The Minister, who responded to questions from the media, including issues on soccer in the region, said efforts were made to promote the Upper East United Football Club.
He complained that “We want football, but unfortunately we do not want to spend on the management of football clubs in the region”.
Mr Woyongo said maintenance of streetlights in Bolgatanga township, was the duty of the Municipal Assembly and added that the streetlights have been expanded to cover 40kilometers in the area.
He expressed worry about agitations concerning land compensation by people in the region since that was affecting development projects.
The Minster said the implementation of some projects in the region had delayed because of this incessant demand for compensation by land owners and appealed to media practitioners in the region to sensitize the people on the need to release land for development and that “we cannot eat our cake and have it”.
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