Wasa Akropong (W/R) Feb.22 - GNA Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, on Saturday, said the government would do everything in its power to ensure that the forthcoming elections would be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity and the results were credible. He was speaking at a grand durbar of the Chiefs and people of Wasa Amenfi Traditional Area to round off their annual Akwantu-Kesee festival at Wasa Akropong.

Alhaji Mahama appealed to the people to comport themselves and co-operate with the Electoral Commission (EC), election officers and the security agencies to ensure successful elections.

He said the old voters register was bloated and was being replaced at a huge cost to the state and called on Ghanaians to assist the officials to ensure a successful exercise.

Alhaji Mahama urged Ghanaians of voting age to register as voters adding that those who would fail participate in the programme would not be able to vote thereby selling their birthright.

He warned Ghanaians against delaying to register with the hope that the deadline for registration would be extended adding the people should assist the EC to compile a credible voters register. MORE

Alhaji Mahama said the government has earmarked 23 major bridges for construction throughout the country and five of the projects would be executed in the Wasa Amenfi District.

He said the government could not meet all the demands of rural communities and advised the people to form associations to mobilize resources to develop their areas to supplement government efforts. Alhaji Mahama said the authorities recognized that infrastructure development was the basis for accelerated development and would continue to provide essential services and facilities in the rural areas. He said roads in the western region, which have been neglected for so long were being given serious attention and that the programme to tar all feeder roads in there was on course.

Kasapreko Kwame Bassanyin III, Omanhene of Wasa Amenfi Traditional Area and President of Western Regional House of Chiefs, commended the government for creating the Amenfi West district out of the Wasa Amenfi district to speed up development.

He said the doors of the chiefs in the area were always opened to investors who would be given every assistance to establish their businesses.

Kasapreko Bassanyin urged cocoa farmers to take advantage of the favourable climate created by government to increase production to support the economy.

He announced that an educational fund has been set up by the traditional council to assist needy but brilliant children in the area. The traditional council presented President John Agyekum Kufuor with an award for his exemplary leadership and for implementing sound policies to improve the lot of the people. Vice President Mahama received the award on behalf of President Kufuor. The late Osofo Komfo Damuah, one-time head of the Afrikania Movement and member of the PNDC, was also honoured for promoting development in area.

A number of traditional authorities and companies in the area were also honoured for contributing towards the development of the area. The companies included Swiss Lumber Company, Smartex Limited, Kasapreko Company and Amenfiman Rural bank. Dignitaries who attended the durbar included Dr Kweku Afriyie, Minister of Health, Mr. Freddie Blay, first deputy speaker of Parliament, Dr. Paul Acquah, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mr Joe Baidoo-Ansah, Member of Parliament for Effia-Kwesimintsim and Mr Peter Mac Manu, Regional Chairman of NPP.