Government to screen asylum seekers

Jachie (Ash), April 19, GNA - Miss Abena Dapaah, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing for Bantama, has said that the government was cautiously dealing with asylum seekers from the Darfur region in Sudan and those from other countries.

She said the government would give the necessary assistance to refugees after thorough screening but those found to be lacking refugee status would be repatriated.

Miss Dapaah, who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, was answering questions at the People's Assembly organised by the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district assembly at Jachie at the weekend. She called on the security agencies, especially those along the borders to be vigilant to avoid influx of refugees through unapproved routes.

Miss Dapaah announced that efforts would be made by the government to construct new bungalows and rehabilitate the dilapidated ones to help ease the accommodation problem facing workers in the area.

Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, MP for Bosomtwe, said he would investigate the alleged payment of wages and salaries below the minimum wage by some companies operating in the district and ensure that employees pay social security contributions of their workers.

Mr Osei-Mensah said the government would soon educate the people on the deregulation of petroleum exercise to enable them to understand the policies and programmes of the government.

The MP assured them that the government was committed to rehabilitate the road network in the district to facilitate the movement of people and transportation of foodstuffs to the marketing centres. Mr Bright Addai-Mununkum, the acting District Chief Executive, said the assembly would continue to initiate more development projects to help improve their living conditions.

During an open forum, the people expressed concern about lack of communication facilities, road network and employment opportunities for the youth in the area and appealed to the government and the assembly, s a matter of urgency to address such problems.

Nana Owusu-Panin Adusei, Abrankese-Nyameanihene, who chaired the function, stressed the need for the government to develop the Lake Bosomtwe to attract more tourists to the area to generate more revenue for the assembly.