The age-old administrative block of the Panfokrom Women's Training Institute in the Central Region, is to be rehabilitated at the cost of 1.1 billion cedis. The project had already been awarded on contract and work is expected to commence soon.

These were contained in a speech read on behalf of the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, by the Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur at a ceremony to commemorate the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the institute at the Gomoa Panfokrom on Saturday.

Alhaji Aliu said that government would provide the institute with new and durable school bus before March 6, this year to enable the institute to celebrate Ghana's 50th anniversary in a fitting manner. He announced government plans to make the institute one of the best to enable it to fulfil its obligation as a key women's training centre to enable more girls to acquire skills and knowledge that would make them dependable and highly responsible family and nation builders.

Alhaji Aliu assured the management of the institute that the roads linking Panfokrom-Awonbrew and Panfokrom-Gomoa Potsin will also be rehabilitated.

Alhaji Aliu praised Management, Board of Directors and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) of the institute for the excellent performance in recent years, assuring them of continued government support and determination to encourage them to do more to facelift the institution. Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, in a message read on his behalf by his deputy, Mr. Abraham Odoom also assured the management and all those who are contributing to the effective running of the institute of his ministry's preparedness to help them resolve infrastructure, staffing and other challenges confronting the institute.

Miss Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa District Chief Executive, announced that the District Assembly had already assisted the institute to complete its abandoned dormitories at the cost of 500 million cedis and pledged the assembly's support for systematic development of the institute. In a welcoming address, the headmistress of the institute, Mrs Rebecca Ampah-Korsah enumerated the various challenges facing the institute and appealed to the government to device means of addressing them.

Among the most pressing challenges were lack of teachers bungalows, rehabilitation of the administration block, provision of kitchen structures, lack of transport and rehabilitation of roads linking the school and surrounding communities.

In attendance were District Chief Executives for Agona and Ewutu Effutu Senya, Members of Parliament for Gomoa East and West, Paramount Chief of Gomoa Ajumako, Gomoa Akyempim and the Effutu traditional areas.

GNA