Ankaful (C/R), April 9, GNA - The purchase of a presidential jet will not derail government's development agenda, Mr Stephen "AsaBee" Asamoah-Boateng, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Relations, has said.

Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the loan that the government contracted for the purchase of the jet would not have been given for any other purpose and that the government's development process was on course.

He said this on Saturday at Ankaful when he met the people as part of his tour to the constituency to brief them on some proceedings of parliament during the last session and also to explain certain policies and programmes of the government to them. Mr Asamoah-Boateng assured the people of Saltpond and its environs that the government would not abandon the Saltpond Oilfield in favour of the new discovery at Cape Three Points in the Western Region.

Rather, he said, a recent exploration at the offshore of Saltpond had discovered more quantity of oil which would be drilled alongside the discovery at Cape Three Points.

He appealed to the chiefs to exercise patience as what was due them in the form of royalty would be paid.
Mr Robert Quainoo-Arthur, Municipal Chief Executive, lauded the achievement of Mr Asamoah-Boateng as MP and said the greatest of his achievements was facilitating the upliftment of the district to the municipal status. Mr Quainoo-Arthur appealed to chiefs and opinion leaders in the municipality to bring to order politicians who would want to disturb peace, before, during and after the general election.