Help To Advance National Development
The President, Professor J.E.A. Mills, has called on traditional authorities and all well-meaning Ghanaians not to hestitate to draw the attention of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to any lapses that they may observe during its four-year administration of the country.
He explained that, since he, who was ‘cutting a path’ did not know how crooked the path was, the President, the Vice-President, District Chief Executives (DCEs), Regional Ministers and, indeed, all other government functionaries, were ever prepared to listen to the advice and counsel of the people.
However, the President cautioned that such pieces of advice should be done with decorum and restraint, but not in a manner that would tend to derail the progress of the country.
Prof. Mills made the call when he addressed a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of the Ahafo area in the Brong Ahafo Region at the start of his three-day visit to the region which was primarily meant to thank the people for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves during the last general election and for voting him into power.
The President, who received a hilarious welcome by the enthusiastic crowd as he entered the Goaso Town Park, was accompanied by some Ministers of State and the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Aseidu Nketia.
Even though Prof. Mills and his entourage were several hours late in arriving at the durbar grounds from the Western Region, the crowd eagerly and patiently waited until he finally entered the park at 5:05 p.m. amidst brass band music, while the cheering crowd also danced.
The President, waving a miniature Ghana flag in an open top car, responded to cheers, after which he inspected a guard of honour by a detachment of the Three Battalion of Infantry (3BN) from Sunyani.
President Mills recognised that the chiefs had contributed significantly to his victory during the last elections, and that the people had made himself and the NDC special, but noted that the same people could withdraw such a prestige if he failed to deliver on his campaign promises.
He, however, gave the assurance that, the NDC government would not renege on its promises, stressing that a better Ghana was in sight and it would not be long for the people to realise signs of socio-economic development.
The President pointed out that, on assuming office, “We did not meet anything in the coffers, otherwise we would have used it immediately to meet the desire of the people because I have a team that I trust can tackle the problems of the country”.
He emphasised that the resources of the country should not be the preserve of the politician and that the money that would acrue especially from the oil find was for all Ghanaians, and should be judiciously used to develop the country, including the Brong Ahafo Region, which he said was dear to his heart.
Prof. Mills noted that, the oil found in other parts of the world had not benefited the people but had rather been a curse, saying, “have faith in us and in four years you will return us to power since we are going to make proper and judicious use of the oil money for you to see”.
The President appealed to the chiefs to collaborate with the Regional Co-ordinating Councils (RCCs) and the District Chief Executives (DCEs) in the development of the communities, stressing that the Regional Ministers and the DCEs were appointed to serve the people and nothing else.
He reiterated that now that the elections were over, he as an NDC member, had now joined all the other parties and appealed to the people to avoid divisiveness and live in peace, harmony and unity for effective development of the country.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the President had tasked him to ensure that adequate compensation was paid to cocoa farmers and others whose lands would be acquired for mining operations.
Alhaji Dauda, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Asutifi South, urged the chiefs to monitor the use of the District Assemblies Common Fund since the money was basically meant for the development of their respective areas, adding that the chiefs should not turn around to blame the central government for any development lapses.
The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, noted that since the Brong Ahafo Region had contributed significantly towards food production in the country, it would not be left out in the road development programme of the country, and disclosed that two bridges were to be constructed on Rivers Go and Sa, both in the Ahafo area, while other feeder roads were also to be tackled as part of a nationwide programme.
Mr Albert Abongo, the Minister of Works and Housing and Water Resources, disclosed that arrangements were being finalised on the Sunyani and Techiman Water projects, pointing out that GH¢30 million had already been allocated in the budget for the improvement of water and sanitation facilities in rural communities under a Community Water and Sanitation (CWSA) programme.
The Omanhene of the Goaso Traditional Area, Nana Kwasi Bosomprah, drew the attention of the President to the deplorable nature of the Tepa-Goaso road, which he said, was constructed by the previous NDC government.
He also appealed for an ambulance for the Goaso Government Hospital and a fire engine for the area.
He also urged his colleague paramount chiefs to endeavour to document all their development needs and submit a copy to the Goaso Municipal Assembly for action, saying that such documents would be the basis for assessing the NDC’s performance in the municipality during its four-year term in office.
The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, in his welcoming address, expressed dissatisfaction at the falling standard of education in the region, and gave the assurance that the RCC and the various assemblies were collaborating to ensure that teaching and learning were improved significantly.