The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Mr Anthony Egyir Aikins, said the assembly is evolving strategies to facilitate the growth of the tourism industry, generate employment for the people and attract the needed foreign exchange for development. It will, in this regard, re-design the ancient city of Cape Coast by re-zoning the coastal stretch from the Castle area through to the Fosu Lagoon Site to accommodate the development of beach front hotels and other tourism facilities. Mr Aikins, who said this at the Second Ordinary Session of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA), hinted that, the Ghana Police and Prison officers' barracks, currently sited along the beach at Bakaano, would be relocated to pave the way for the proposed tourism projects. He said there is a proposal on an industrial township to be sited at Mpeasem near Jukwa and that about 10,000 acres of land has been acquired to develop it into a well designed site. It will also have serviced plots with all the requisite modern facilities to attract investors to the metropolis. Mr Aikins said the site would have free-zone enclaves, business parks and a cyber city to attract investment in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industry. According to him, the whole metropolis would soon be given a facelift to befit a modern tourism area since Cape Coast "is the tourism heartbeat" of the nation. Mr Aikins said a well designed bridge would be constructed on the Fosu lagoon while plans are underway for the construction of an interchange at the Pedu Junction. The roads in the town will be upgraded and an ultra modern market and stadium built, the construction of affordable houses is also being negotiated by the assembly, he said. Mr Aikins urged all residents of the area to contribute their quota by assisting the assembly to carry out a total development of the area to enhance the wellbeing of the people. Members of the assembly expressed concern about the GH¢72,000 being deducted quarterly from the common fund for the payment of services rendered by the Zoomlion Ghana Limited, saying, it was too high and called for a review. They suggested that the work of the assembly's sanitation guards and that of the Company be outlined for each worker to know his expected roles. An appealed was made for the immediate reconstruction of all the damaged bridges in the metropolis to lessen the burden on commuters. Source: GNA