Use exploration levy to explore crude oil- Chief

Abura Dunkwa (C/R), April 14 GNA - Nana Oburo Asakuma III, Chief of Ankaful, near Cape Coast, on Wednesday appealed to the government to use the money accrued from the petroleum exploration levy to explore and refine oil in the country, instead of diverting it to other projects. Nana Asakuma said the current economic hardships Ghanaians are going through would not be solved, if nothing was done for the nation to produce its own crude oil and stressed that work should speed up on the few oil sites that have been discovered in the country.

He made the appeal during the peoples' assembly at Abura Dunkwa in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District, where government policies were explained to the people.

Chiefs, heads of some decentralized agencies, and schools children, graced the programme, which, was poorly attended. Nana Asakuma also appealed to the government to critically study the law on armed robbery and make the necessary amendments so as to curb the high spate of armed robbery in the country. He said the current laws on armed robbery was too liberal and has made it possible for armed robbers to engage the services of lawyers, who defend and win case in court for them to continue with their nefarious activities.

Nana Asakuma thanked the government for fulfilling its promise to work on the Accra -Yamoransa road, which he said was progressing steadily.

Mr Kofi Aganonovor, district secretary of the convention People's Party (CPP) called on Cardinal Peter Appiah Turkson and traditional rulers in the country to help resolve the differences between the former President J.J Rawlings and President John Agyekum Kufuor.

He said, " if two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers and Ghanaians cannot afford to allow themselves to be trampled over by the fighting elephants".

Nana Ohene Ntow, government spokesman on finance and economics, said the government was not insensitive of the plight of Ghana and that is why it has put in place a number of economic policies that has helped to bring down inflation and stabilized the cedi He called on the public not to politicise the current fuel increase but to see it as a necessary decision the government has taken to help stabilize the economy.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze said the government was not only interested in amassing wealth for it self, but was concerned with good governance and respect for the rule of law. Most questions from the participants were bordered on accommodation, roads, water, pension scheme, new lorry fares and the provision of telephone facilities.