GOVT SETS UP WESTERN CORRIDOR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (SPREAD)

PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday announced the establishment of the Western Corridor Development Authority (WCDA) to facilitate the accelerated development of the Western and Central regions.
Funding for the project will be provided by the European Union and the World Bank, with a significant proportion also provided by the government of Ghana.
President Mills announced the project when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Western Region at the Golden Jubilee Park in Takoradi on the first day of his tour of the Western and Brong Ahafo regions.
The President also announced the formation of a committee to spearhead the rehabilitation of the rail sector and said he had tasked the committee to report back to him within three weeks.
He assured the people of the Western Region that the government would not shirk its responsibility to improve upon their socio-economic and material conditions, explaining that it was duty bound to fulfil the social contract that it entered into with the people to ensure qualitative improvement in their living conditions.
The President is on a tour of the Western and Brong Ahafo regions to inspect development projects and acquaint himself with the socio-economic challenges of the people in those regions.
The visit is also intended for him to interact with the people and express his appreciation to them for the confidence they have reposed in him.
He is also expected to outline the policies the government intends to use to address distortions in the economy and alleviate the sufferings of the people.
President Mills told the crowd that the government would definitely fulfil its electoral promises before the end of its term.
He thanked the people of the region for voting for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He remarked that the endorsement of the NDC by the people implied that “you have confidence in the NDC to deliver you from the economic predicament brought about by the previous government”.
He said being aware of the expectations of the people, the government would not go to sleep but work hard to ensure remarkable transformation in the lives on the people.
President Mills briefed the gathering on the difficult economic situation that the NDC inherited on assumption of office.
He said the economy faced very adverse challenges and so it needed massive overhaul and capital injection to revamp.
He called on the people to exercise patience while the government continued to implement corrective measures to salvage the economy and improve the lot of the people.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, announced that plans were being put in place to rehabilitate and improve the western corridor roads from Elubo through Enchi to Juaboso and others in the region.
Prior to the arrival of the President, the people had gathered at the Jubilee Park and chiefs from far and near were seated in their numbers to welcome him.
It was a difficult situation driving to the Jubilee Park as a massive crowd rushed to welcome the President.
That left the President with no option but to open the top of his vehicle to respond to the cheers. The President’s convoy had to drive at a snail’s pace until it finally arrived at the park for the commencement of the programme.
The Western Regional House of Chiefs, led by its President, Awulae Attibrukusu, and other members of the house, as well as some prominent members of society and the business community, welcomed the President and his entourage.