President ends three day visit to Brong Ahafo
Nsawkaw (B/A), Aug. 1,
Ghanadot/GNA – President John Evans Atta Mills has
directed the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development to have all metropolitan, municipal and district
assemblies audited to know the extent of their indebtedness.
He stressed that the indebtedness, which was due to
mismanagement of funds released for the provision of certain
development projects had incapacitated the assemblies.
President Mills gave the direction at a durbar of chiefs,
the people and heads of state institutions at Nsawkaw,
capital of Tain district, who defied the rains, on the last
day of the President’s three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo
Region.
President Mills was given a tumultuous welcome to the
district that decided the winner of the Presidential run-off
in last December’s general election. He later addressed a
similar durbar in Techiman to end his tour of the region.
He thanked the people for the peace that had prevailed in
the area and in the country during and after the elections
and gave the assurance that the government would reciprocate
by working hard enough to make Ghana a better place for all.
President Mills referred to the destruction by fire of the
district office of the Electoral Commission in the area last
year and promised that the matter would be investigated
thoroughly to bring the culprits to book.
“We cannot tolerate the culture of impunity as it will
destroy our country because nobody is above the law”, he
stressed and urged all to gird up their loins as one people
to move the country forward.
He said his administration would accept constructive
criticisms, suggestions and advice to guide it to
successfully steer the affairs of the nation.
President Mills noted that, Tain district, as ‘the
kingmaker’ in the last general election suddenly became
popular and was widely known even in international circles
and exhorted the chiefs and people to continue supporting
the government in its efforts to meet their aspirations and
expectations.
On the Bui Dam Project in the district, President Mills
advised the chiefs and people to acknowledge that it would
benefit all Ghanaians and therefore need their support and
goodwill for its successful construction and management.
Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National
Democratic Congress (NDC) urged the police to conduct
further investigations into the destruction of the district
EC office.
He promised amid wild cheers by the people that, a Senior
High School would be commissioned in the area as part of
this year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the
creation of the Brong Ahafo region, whilst some major roads
in the area would be upgraded.
Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Regional Minister, questioned the
quality of materials being used for the construction of the
Bui Dam and called for an enquiry to ensure that the best
quality materials were used, since the project was for the
benefit of all Ghanaians.
Nana Kutu Ayim Baffour 11, Omanhene of Nsawkaw Traditional
Area, earlier in a short address appealed to the government
to upgrade the road network in the area, provide the people
with water, accommodation for the police and the development
of schools infrastructure.
In Techiman, President Mills urged Ghanaians to avoid the
political polarization of the country to ensure its smooth
and steady development and to have confidence in the NDC
government to bring back on track the development agenda.
He tasked the Ministry of Local Government and Rural
Development to investigate the huge indebtedness of the
municipal and district assemblies, adding that, the
government would not spare anybody whose acts would bring
the name of the government into disrepute.
The President announced that the Techiman-Kintampo highway
would be developed into a dual carriageway and street lights
provided in Kintampo whilst the Atebubu-Kwame Danso road in
the Sene district would be given a face lift, starting in
December this year.
Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw 1V, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional
Area, earlier appealed for the completion of the Techiman
Central Market project started by the first NDC government
in 1990.
He said the development of the market was the foresight of
the late Nana Akumfi Ameyaw 111, and as a viable commercial
market in the sub region it attracts traders from Mali,
Burkina Faso, Niger, La Cote D’ Ivoire and Togo.
Oseadeeyo Akumfi also called for the completion of the
police barracks project in Techiman to curb the increasing
crime wave at the market.
He commended the security agencies for their efforts in
controlling crime and appealed for the completion of the
court complex at Woase, also near Techiman.
The Omanhene called for assistance for the construction of
an airstrip started by the traditional council at Twimia
Koase, near Techiman, which had so far spent GHC30,000 on
the project, as well as the upgrading of the 20 kilometre
Tuobodom-Offuman road to help facilitate the carting of food
produce locked up in the area.
GNA
