Government determined to ensure good governance and rule of law – Minister

Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister on Tuesday said government was determined to ensure good governance and rule of law in the country.

He said government's business was not being determined on political parties and cronies but in a manner that would ensure equity and fairness for every Ghanaian in all spheres of national life.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo made the observation during a courtesy call on him by a delegation of paramount and divisional chiefs from Asutifi District in the Ahafo area in Sunyani.

They included Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi Ampim, Paramount Chief of Acherensua Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwabena Nsiah Ababio, Paramount Chief of Kenyase Number 1 and Nana Osei Kofi Abiri II, Paramount Chief of Kenyase Number 2.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo said President Mills had charged his ministers to perform with “zero tolerance for discrimination”, therefore, the most important thing was the effective and pragmatic cooperation of traditional authorities with the government for smooth implementation of policies and programmes to accelerate socio-economic development of the country.

He noted that traditional authorities were embodiment of leadership experience and repository of wisdom and knowledge therefore, he appealed to them not to hesitate to offer guidance and suggestions to enable him to deliver the best for the Region.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo explained that in making appointments, government took into account the competence, efficiency, ethnic and geographical background of the individuals adding “the soon-to-be announced Municipal and District Chief Executives would be purely based on merit”.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo appealed to the chiefs to amicably intervene where necessary to avoid or prevent the usually politically motivated rejection of chief executives during confirmation by assemblies since such stalemates rather stalled the smooth development of the districts involved.

“This does not mean that I am asking our chiefs to get involved in active party politics, but in the interest of our people and over all national development they must step in some situations on the pedestal of their power to adjudicate in disputes in their localities, so that governmental machinery would progress,” he said.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo observed that some people were so politically fanatic that they did not see the need to separate their emotions from their commercial ventures which had the tendency to collapse the business concerned.

He cited the practice of hanging political party souvenirs in taxi cabs and shops that sometimes drove potential and prospective clients and customers away and called on the chiefs to educate the people about such negative political and economically self destructive practices.

Mr Nyamekye Marfo announced that a Planning Committee for the Golden Jubilee celebration of the creation of Brong Ahafo Region had been constituted by the Brong Ahafo Regional Coordinating Council.

He said the year-long programme would be launched on April 4, this year to commemorate the Region's birth day for activities to begin in earnest.

Agyewodin Adu-Gyamfi expressed gratitude to Mr Nyamekye Marfo for the assurance to address their concerns and pledged their preparedness and readiness to offer their unflinching support to improve the living standards of the people.

GNA