Ahafo-Ano South DCE to the defence of NPP....As Okyeame denigrates government`s achievement

MR. KWAKU Obeng Boateng, District Chief Executive of the Ahafo-Ano South District in the Ashanti region has described as false, claims by Nana Acheampong Duah, a linguist of Kunsu, a suburb of Mankranso, during an NDC political rally that the NPP government had in its seven and half years rule not brought any development to the district.

He said the statement was not only outrageous, but also a complete fallacy and should be disregarded by well meaning members of the public. Nana Acheampong Duah, who deputized for the chief of Mankranso, on the occasion of the visit of the NDC flagbearer, delivered the chief's address and showered praises on Professor Atta Mills and the NDC.

The linguist is also said to have castigated the NPP government for not developing the Ahafo-Ano south constituency in its almost two terms in office, to which claim the DCE has taken an exception.

According to the DCE, Nana Acheampong Duah has breached section 276 (1) of the 1992 Constitution, which states that a chief should not partake in any active political activity, let alone openly support a political party. Mr. Obeng Boateng also reminded the chief's representative that any chief who dabbled in politics and political activities was liable for destoolment.

The DCE said at a press conference organized by the local NPP constituency that if any government is to be held responsible for not initiating any development in the district, then it was the NDC regime.

According to the DCE, the Member of Parliament for the area and the parliamentary candidate for the NPP, Mr. Stephen Kwaku Balado Manu and the NPP government had brought more developmental projects to the constituency than the NDC government in its nineteen years of office.

He said the NPP government in its almost eight years in office has established 72 schools in the constituency and also provided a bus each to the two Senior High schools in the constituency, whilst a Secondary-Technical school is also under construction at Mpataso.

He also stated that even though the NDC extended electricity to six towns in the constituency, the NPP government under the leadership of President John Agyekum Kufuor has provided over 12 towns in the constituency with electricity.

Additionally, the government has built a police station at Yoaso and Mpasase and constructed roads which links Mankranso, Tepa, Adugyaman and its environs.

Mr. Obeng Boateng also disclosed that the Ahafo-Ano south constituency is the first in the Ashanti region to benefit from the School Feeding program introduced by the NPP government in 2005.

The DCE further disclosed that 650 youth from the constituency have benefited from the National Youth Employment policy, while 30,640 persons have registered for the National Health Insurance Scheme.

According to the DCE, the MP has also in his own small way established libraries and dinning halls in Schools in the constituency, out of his share of the Common Fund.

Meanwhile, the chief of Mankranso, Nana Sarfo Adu Amankwatia Sampene has dissociated himself from the purported statement that his linguist is reported to have made on the NDC platform. The chief expressed shock at the utterance of Nana Acheampong against the NPP government.

When asked whether he has taken any action against the linguist, Nana Amankwatia told this reporter that he and his elders were yet to consider sanctions against the erring linguist, who the chief said had already rendered an apology, after realizing his mistake.