The Ashanti Region Minister, Mr S.K. Boafo has assured residents of Kumasi that the mass transport system would be operational in the city by the end of January.
Mr Boafo, who gave the assurance in answer to a question at the Ashanti Regional Peoples Assembly said the buses would mitigate difficulties workers have to go through daily. The People's Assembly formed part of activities marking a decade of Ghana's Fourth Republic and two years of Positive Change. It created a platform for the electorate to assess the performance of the government and public institutions, evaluate their achievements and weaknesses. Responding to concerns raised about the imminent price hikes of petroleum products, the Minister said if there is a way out the government would avoid it but unfortunately there is no other option other than increase the price.
Mr Boafo said the debt accumulated at the Tema Oil Refinery is so huge that until Ghanaians are ready to pay economic rates for fuel it would be difficult to offset the debt. Mr Boafo said it is the policy of the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) not to allow the construction of KVIPs to serve any community again. He said the RCC is encouraging the various District Assemblies to construct water closets and household toilets. Mr Boafo said the Kumasi Shoe Factory would start production by the end of January and would create employment for about 800 people.
He said a Bangladeshi company to whom the Kumasi Jute factory has been divested would also start operations soon. He said all these interventions are positive indicators of the government's commitment to improving the economy and creating employment for the numerous unemployed youth in the country.
