Vice President Aliu Mahama has tasked the Akuapem South District Assembly to take urgent measures to have the Aburi Botanical Gardens rehabilitated. In that direction, he has asked the assembly to liaise with ministries of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment and the Tourism and Diaspora for assistance to resurrect the gardens. The Vice President said this in a speech read on his behalf by the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Affram-Asiedu, at the Odwira durbar of chiefs and people of Aburi on Saturday. He said the Aburi Botanical Gardens was a very important national asset as far as tourism and preservation of nature were concerned and government would do everything possible to sustain it. He mentioned the rehabilitation of the Peduase Lodge, the construction of the Pantang/Mamfe road, the Aburi Girls Secondary School that he described as an institution of excellence as the reasons that made Aburi a unique destination for all. He said the upgrading of the Adonten Secondary School into a model school was on course and the Craft Village had also been given to another contractor to ensure that it finished on time to benefit the people. Vice President Mahama expressed dissatisfaction at the level of patronage of the NHIS in the district and appealed to the people to register so that the objective of government would be achieved. The Chief of Aburi, Otoobour Djan Kwasi II, said as part of his efforts to improve on the ecological system of Aburi, a forestation programme to plant trees from the Pantang Junction to Aburi and its environs was underway. He appealed to citizens of Aburi and other multi-national companies to assist in realizing such a noble idea of beautifying Aburi to become the best tourism site. Otoobuor Gjan Kwasi, who is the patron of the Ghana Supporters Union, appealed to government to provide the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) of Ghana 2008 logistics so that come 2008, Ghana would become the proud winner of the cup. The Chairman of the LOC, Dr Kofi Amoah who led some members of the committee including Abedi Pele and Tony Baffuor to the durbar, said government was playing its part towards the historic tournament and called for the support of every individual. He said it was estimated that over 4.5 billion people would watch the tournament either in Ghana or across the world and stressed the need for all communities to be kept clean. Source: GNA