Western North Tour: Akufo-Addo inspects Bibiani Health College Lecture Halls

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has began a two-day working visit to the Western North Region after the region was created

As part of his visit, the President Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday April 10, 2019 inspected the 2.9 million cedi lecture halls and offices project for the Bibiani Health College as well as hectares of farms under the National Cocoa rehabilitation Programme being undertaken by the Cocoa Health and Extension Division of Cocobod at Sefwi-Bekwai in the Region.

The Heath College projects funded by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Foundation is expected to be completed in 2020 and help increase enrolment of interested individuals and youths into the health care profession.

Ms. Stella Sarpomaa Oppong, the Principal of the College said the construction of the new facility had come as a big relief to meet the ever growing enrollment into the school.

Currently, the old facility can accommodate only 210 but is believed to absorb over 600 students when the February 2020 deadline was adhered to.

The President also made a stopover at the project site of the Cocoa Extension Division of the Cocobod where numerous diseased cocoa trees had been cut under the cocoa rehabilitation projects.

The rehabilitation project has a composite plan of destroying most swollen shots affected plants from roots, preparing the land for cultivation of hybrid seedlings, economic seedlings and plantains surplus as well as compensation for affected farmers and landowners.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (Cocobod) Mr. Joseph Boahene Aidoo who took the President round the farms said the move is to enable the country increase yields and regain position as leading producers of quality cocoa beans across the world.

He said the disease has no remedy and that a survey conducted shows that over 300000 trees had been affected particularly in the Western-North.

The CEO of COCOBOD told the President that the Region had had most of its trees affected by Cocoa Swollen Shoot-Virus Disease necessitating the cutting of most of them under the government intervention programme with a two-year preparation plan.

So far, negotiations were far advanced with the African Development Bank for funds for the project and therefore encouraged all affected farmers to support the project.

Later, the Chiefs and people of Sefwi-Wiawso hosted the President at a durbar at the Palace of Katakyie Kwesi Bumangama II the Omanhene Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council.

The President described the day as a joyful occasion for him to interact with the people of the area under his yearly Regional visit plan, "I am delighted to start my Regional interaction from this new Region and I assure you that I will work hard in maintaining a befitting Region".

He appreciated the Patience and endurance of the People to see that their long-term dream of having a new Region come to pass and prayed that they continue to support his administration in providing the development needs of the people.

"God bless you for a peaceful referendum. We have a new land for the administrative offices and I will personally go there to inspect the site."

"The core staff for the running of the Regional Coordinating Council plus eight new vehicles have been provided as initial...do good and credible work to merit the admiration of all," the President entreated.

President Akufo-Addo said under the Syno-Hydro pact some of the road networks within the Region would be fixed especially Sefwi-Wiawso, Akontombra, Enchi, Elubo roads.

A 13.6 million Waiawso town roads also awarded on contract..."Nananom, I will never go asleep on your needs, I am working hard for your development".

The President called for a peaceful coexistence between the Western-North and the Western Regions to engender massive development within the two regions.

Nana Kwasi Bumangama II was grateful to the President for the creation of the Region and encouraged his subjects to bear and continue to have faith in the government as he provides all needed facilities befitting a new Region.

The Paramount Chief reminded the President of the need to fix most of the terrible road networks within the Area.

The Chiefs and Queenmothers of Sefwi Wiawso Traditional Council presented the President with a special Royal Stool and Kente clothe named: "Oseadieyo" literally- the one who fulfill his promises.

The President were accompanied by Hon. Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railways Development, Minister of Trade Allan Kwadwo Kyeremanten, Minister for Regional Integrayand Reorganization, Hon. Dan Kwaku Botwe, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board, Mr. Joseph Boahene Aidoo, Minister for Western North Region, Hon. Kingsley Aboagye Gyedu, and his deputy Hon. Alex Tetteh and Nana Ato Arthur, head of local Government Service among other high profile Government functionaries.