The Vice President, John Mahama, has assured the people of Western Region that the region will attract more investments and development, the value of which would be more than the 10 per cent of the oil revenue that they had demanded for the socio-economic transformation of the area. For starters, he said, the government would use $1.8 billion of the $3 billion Chinese loan facility approved by the Parliament in August 2011 for the development of the Takoradi Port, road construction and the establishment of the industrial infrastructure for the processing of gas. Mr Mahama gave the assurance at a durbar to mark the annual Kundum Festival of the chiefs and people of the Lower Axim Traditional Area at the Victoria Park in Axim on Saturday. Kundum is an annual festival celebrated by the Nzemas and the Ahantas in the Western Region of Ghana. It is believed that during the period of the festival, the people enjoy a bumper harvest of foodstuffs and fish. Kundum is, therefore, seen as an agricultural festival and is associated with the goddess of fertility by the people. This year’s festival, held on the theme, “Girl-Child Education”, also marked the 50th, birthday of the Omanhene of the Lower Axim Traditional Area, Awulae Attibrukusu III, which gave the celebration an added momentum and colour, with all the chiefs dressed in their rich Kente and ornaments. Out of the $1.8 billion earmarked for the development of the region, the Vice President said $200 million would be used for the Takoradi petroleum terminal project to be sited at Pumpuni. The Western Corridor oil enclave pole road development project would be financed under the facility, while fishing harbours would be built for the people of Axim, he added. Mr Mahama said the Western Corridor project, which would take off next year, would take care of the remaining 4.1. kilometres road at Axim. “Already, the government has awarded contract for the construction of 423 kilometres of road network in the region, while plans are far advanced for the construction of a sea defence at Axim to save the people from the ravages of the sea,” he said. Additionally 850 communities in the Western Region, 45 of which are in Axim, are also expected to be connected to the national grid, the Vice President said. Following Awblae Attihrukusu’s request for the construction of a police station in the area, the Vice President gave an assurance that the government would make funds available in next year’s budget for that project, adding that the government would also absorb the only girls’ senior high school in the area (the Axim Girls’ Senior High School), as requested by the Omanhene. He indicated that the government had, within the last two and half years, constructed 105 six classroom blocks, 10 dormitories, 16 teachers’ bungalows and 17 12-unit classroom blocks in the area. Congratulating Awulae Attibrukusu on his birthday, the Vice President described the Omanhene as a progressive leader who had mobilised his people to facilitate development in the area and asked the people to continue to live in peace to ensure the rapid development of the traditional area. Mr Mahama said the oil industry would create many job opportunities in the area and urged the youth in the area to develop the relevant skills to facilitate their engagement in the industry. Earlier, Awulae Attibrukusu had requested the government to develop infrastructure in the basic schools in the traditional area and provide more teachers for the schools. He said driving through Axim was very difficult because of the bad nature of the roads there and asked the government to facilitate moves to rehabilitate the roads. He noted that a greater part of the Axim beach might be swallowed by the sea within the next few years if action was not taken to prevent the continuous movement of the sea. The Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira, Ms Catherine Afeku, appealed to the government to complete the remaining 4.1 kilometres of road at Axim.