By Mildred-Siabi Mensah/ Emmanuel Gamson
Fijai (W/R), Nov. 08, GNA – President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has reiterated government’s commitment to complete the PTC interchange in Takoradi and the Takoradi Market Circle project before his tenure ends on January 7,2025 next year.
He explained that the recent restructuring of Ghana’s debts affected the two significant projects in the Western Region, but assured that arrangements were on course for the resumption of works to ensure full completion of those projects.
“The Ministry of Finance is working to complete the processes and by the grace of God, the PTC interchange and the redevelopment of the Takoradi market circle will be completed before I leave office,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo gave the assurance at a meeting held at Fijai, in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, as part of his nationwide thank you tour.
The meeting was for him to express his gratitude to the people of Ghana for their unwavering support throughout his administration over the last eight years.
He said: “We have done a lot but truly we have not done all. Thank you for your supports in executing various projects in education, health, road infrastructure, and industrial transformation in the Western Region.”
On education, President Akufo-Addo mentioned that the Free SHS programme had increased access for children and improved the quality of education in the country with enrolment increasing from 800,000 in 2017 to about 5.7 million in 2023.
Again, he stated that, the 2023 West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results had been the best in Ghana, so far, while the students’ loan guarantor system had also been abolished with the use of Ghana Card.
” All these policies and programmes are to consolidate education in Ghana in the 21st century, and Western Region has not been left out in this successes stories.
Today, we see changes brought by the Free SHS and no doubt worth the investment, and Ghanaians have accepted it. We will continue with the good works to improve the system,” the President said.
On health projects in the Region, President Akufo-Addo said the government had improved access with the rehabilitation of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, which was about 50 per cent complete, while the new Regional Hospital at Apemanim also at about 30 percent completion stage.
The Ahanta West and Mpohor District Hospitals, under the agenda 111 project, were almost completed, he added.
The President said the Western Region had witnessed some industrial transformation with the Twyford Ceramics, B-Bovid and Ghana Rubber Estate (GREL) factory expansion, Plot Enterprise in Takoradi under the one district, one factory (1D1F) programme among others.
On roads, he said about 768 kilometres of new roads had been done across the Western region with some ongoing.
President Akufo-Addo noted that: “Ghana is dear to my heart, and I have done my best to propel the country’s economy forward and Western Region has not been left out. We will continue to drive the transformation agenda and improve quality of life for the people.”
Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, thanked President Akufo-Addo for instituting various development projects that had positively impacted the region’s economy.
Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II, Paramount Chief of Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, also expressed gratitude to President Akufo-Addo for his good works, and said the Western Region would be grateful to him for the numerous development projects brought to the doorsteps of the people.
GNA