'We need a realistic development agenda'- Akyem Swedru Omanhene

Mrs Helen Ntoso

Akyem Swedru (E/R), May 18, GNA - Okotwaresuo Kantamanto Oware Agyekum II, Omanhene of the Akyem Swedru Traditional Area, has appealed to government to pursue a realistic development agenda that would impact positively on the lives of the people.

He said politicians who run the country should be ready to make meaningful contributions to help improve the lot of the ordinary citizen.

The Omanhene expressed worry that there seem not to be any mechanism to measure the achievements of politicians and challenges placed before them.

'We have seen several Regional Ministers coming here and we put our challenges before them, but since 2000 we have not seen any meaningful changes in our society and it is our hope that things would change for the better,' he said.

He said this when Ms Helen AdjoaNtoso, the Eastern Regional Minister and her Deputy, Mavis AmaFrimpong, paid a courtesy call on him as part of their familiarization tour of the districts in the region.

OkotwaresuoKantamantoOwareAgyekum said the bad road networks in the entire Akyem area has continued to impede economic activities that could have contributed immensely to the development of the country.

He said attention should be paid to the serious water shortages being faced by the people of Birim South adding that the district also needs a hospital to relieve the people from the hussle of plying long distances to the AkyemOda Government hospital for treatment.

He appealed to government to also strengthen security in the area and help reduce crime by boosting up the police personnel in the district and providing more patrol vehicles.

The Omanhene urged the Regional Minister to make available information on the development projects and development processes at the regional and district levels since 'that would ensure transparent governance.'

'In terms of contracts, let us know the total extent of the contract, because such contracts are for the people of the area is not exclusive to the Regional Coordinating Council and the Municipal and District Assemblies alone,' he said adding that by this, citizens can as part of their participation process contribute to the development of the region.

Ms Ntoso tasked assembly members to relay information on the development of their respective areas to their traditional rulers so they could have knowledge on the development processes in their areas.

She said 'we are committed to cooperate with the chiefs to work at developing the region'.