Don't blame DCEs for failures - JAK

Tikobo No.1 (W/R), Aug. 17, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday cautioned members of the District Assemblies against blaming District Chief Executives (DCEs) for the inefficiencies in the development of the districts.

He said the power for development in the districts was vested in the assembly members, who confirmed the President's nominee.

"Therefore, the failure of the assemblies to exercise their power and rights on the performance of the DCEs leading to inefficiency in the development of the districts should not be blamed on the inefficiencies of the DCEs but their failure to exercise their legitimate power and rights on the actions of the DCEs," he said.

President Kufuor made the observation when addressing a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Nzema East District at Tikobo Number One as part of his four-day tour of the Western Region.

He said to revive the coconut industry and improve the economic power of the people in the area; the Government of Ghana and the French government were working out modalities to get new and disease resistant hybrid coconut seedlings for re-planting.

"Coconut is the life-blood of Nzemas and we will work hard and ensure that the industry does not die," he stressed.

President Kufuor said that the lack of potable water could result in the outbreak of diarrhoea diseases and guinea worm.

He, therefore, pledged that the district assembly would pay the counterpart funding for community water projects to enable other development partners to assist in providing water for rural towns and villages.

President Kufuor said the Government would soon establish a micro-finance company to grant loans to small and medium scale businesses.

He said loans granted by the company would not be free but would attract low interest rates, while no collateral would be demanded from beneficiaries.

President Kufuor appealed to would be beneficiaries to ensure that loans collected were re-paid to enable others to benefit from the scheme.

Awulae Annor Adjaye III, Omanhene of Western Nzema, urged the Government to remain focused and use the nation's scarce resources to mitigate the nagging effects of global petroleum pricing regimes on the vulnerable Ghanaian society.

Quoting from recent price of crude oil, Awulae Adjaye said: "Critics were making a lopsided intellectual argument, which at best must be dismissed as sheer political propaganda."

He said the continued caring posture towards the entire populace of Ghana irrespective of political differences, "amply demonstrates your fatherly disposition to all sons and daughters of mother Ghana, such display of political maturity and magnanimity will continue to endear many to your policy options."