The outgoing Western Regional Minister, Mr. Ebenezer kwadwo Teye Addo, says a total of eleven (11) small town water projects were awarded on contract at a cost of GH¢24,121,150 in 2013/2014 in the Western Region.

He said the project was in line with governments overall objective of improving access to potable water for over four million population in the Region.

Mr. Addo made this known during interaction with journalists at Sekondi on Friday, to show appreciation to the media for their cooperation during his tenure of office as the Regional Minister.

Some of the beneficiary communities and districts of the water project included Agyakaa Manso in the Wassa Amenfi Central, Asankragwa in the Amenfi West, Ekutuase in the Wass East, Nsawora and Bopa in the Sefwi Akontombra, Old and New Yakese water supply system in the Aowin-Suaman district.

Mr. Addo indicated that the road sector received tremendous boost with a total of thirty-nine (39) road projects being awarded and executed at a cost of GH84, 695, 560, adding that roads constituted one of the major development concerns of the government and would therefore pursue this agenda vigorously.

Some of the road projects under construction included the rehabilitation of Agona Junction/Elubo transnational trunk road, reconstruction of a 56-km Asankragwa/Enchi road, as well as maintenance of a number of feeder roads including, Asawinso/Kwadwo-krom, Ntrentreso/Akoti, Kogyina Junction/Afuafiekrom, Dwinase/Kwamebour, Pekyi/Kweku Atta, Esaase/Yoyo Agya, Aberewakrom/Brebre among others to facilitate carting of food stuffs and cash crops especially cocoa from the hinterlands to the market centres.

Moreover, the outgoing Regional Minister indicated that the government is spending GH¢
3, 253, 271.17 on fifteen (15) educational infrastructures across the region to improve access to quality education.

Touching on illegal small-scale mining, Mr. Addo said the Ministerial taskforce set up by the president undertook a number of exercises last year to seize mining machines such as excavators and bulldozers used by both Ghanaians and Chinese galamsey, which is depleting the environment, and polluting the water bodies and, therefore, called for collaboration of the entire citizenry to combat the galamsey menace.

He noted that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) successfully hosted the Regional Ministers Conference early this year at Busua while President John Mahama also paid a successful working visit to the Region to acquaint himself with the level of development.

The outgoing Regional Minister observed that his short stay in the region had been successful and enjoyed the support of the staff, traditional leaders, the private sector, the security agencies, the media and all the stakeholders, which enabled him and the RCC to chalk the various successes and asked for same support for the in-coming minister.

GNA