Stop issuing election threats - Minister urges

The Eastern Regional Minister, Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, Wednesday advised community leaders to stop making certain demands as a condition for their people to exercise their franchise in the up-coming general elections.

He said the good people of the country bear witness to what the government has done and continues to do, and would be the best judges of its eight-year term.

Mr Affram Asiedu was reacting to a statement by the Akyem Wenchihene, Osabarima Ahwere Bediako, to the effect that all roads in Kwaebibirem must be put in good shape before the 2008 election.

The Minister was making his closing remarks after chairing the 7th People's Assembly meeting at Kade. Osabarima Ahwere Bediako, who is the head of the Oseawuo Division of Akyem Abuakwa, urged the government to advise itself before the "D-day".

Mr. Affram Asiedu described the statement as unfortunate, saying that it would be wrong for any community head, especially chiefs, to demand special projects as a yard stick for an election.

He remarked that the good people of Ghana have seen what the government has done and so did not think that Ghanaians would turn their back to it in the 2008 election.

In his main address, the Minister referred to the current oil prices and assured that the steps taken by the government to reduce the price of gas oil and certain commodities would bring relief to all Ghanaians.

He recalled that when the NPP assumed office seven years ago the oil price stood at $32 a barrel, as against $135 a barrel on the world market today. He said by the grace of God, Ghana has now found oil which would help to bring sanity into the national economy.

Quoting President Kufuor, Mr Asiedu said what would come out of the oil production would be well managed in the best interest of all Ghanaians. He said Ghana has drawn experience from her oil-producing neighbours and would not allow any form of cheating in the system.

The Kwaebibirem District Chief Executive, Yaw Yiadom Boakye outlined a number of projects executed by the District Assembly from 2005 to date and said more had been achieved within the period. So far, he said 12 new school blocks, 45 boreholes, 12 hand-dug wells and four small water systems had been provided.

On sanitation, he asserted that five new modern places of convenience and five refuse transfer points had also been provided in various communities. Mr. Yiadom Boakye announced that 200 teacher trainees and 33 school children were being sponsored by the District Assembly in addition to 155 disabled persons.

A total of 3,351 school children the DCE posited, were being fed under the School Feeding Programme, with GH¢165,555 spent so far on the programme.

The MP for Kade Constituency and Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Kwaku Ofosu Asamoah, disclosed that the Ministry of Education had given the go-ahead for the construction of a six-classroom block at Akyem Abodom and a new JHS at Nkwantanan at a total cost of GH¢1,700.