Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress party, has reiterated government’s commitment to offer support for the construction and completion of the Nsawkaw Senior High School project in Tain District of Brong Ahafo, in fulfillment of President Atta Mills’ campaign pledge.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Nsawkaw, the district capital, he said apart from meeting government’s criteria and policy of providing one senior high school in each district, the school’s project would be the President’s appreciation and a manifestation of the role played by the district in the last elections, in finally deciding the NDC as the winner of the Presidential election.

He said the government had finally taken a decision to assist the district in that direction as a result of the district’s self–help initiative.

The general secretary refuted claims by the opposition that he was spearheading a campaign for the relocation of a College from Nsawkaw to Seikwa, to be attached to the construction of a proposed 60–bed facility Nsawkaw Government Hospital.

“This is untrue because I played an instrumental role to see to it that both the hospital and the college were brought to Tain”, he added.

Mr Asiedu Nketia asked the chiefs and people to reject comments and utterances of any politician whose statements had the potential to stir ethnic and religious strife.

“Nsawkaw is filled with people of different tribal and religious inclinations who cannot afford to make such statements”, he added.

He advised politicians to guard against making negative utterances in order to protect and promote a peaceful and healthy environment ahead of the December elections.

Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Member of Parliament for Tain, said a contract had been awarded by the government to improve and expand water projects in Nsawkaw.

He recounted one of the major achievements of the government as the construction of a new post office block and commended the Regional Minister for ensuring the restoration of the area’s faulty electricity transformer.

Nana Gyampiti, Gyaasehene, appealed for the provision of a library and ICT facilities for the Nsawkaw Senior High School, as well as technical and vocational schools for the district.

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye–Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, asked the people to vote massively to retain the NDC in power to enable the government to make the completion of the school project a priority.

Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia and heads of department later paid a courtesy call on Okokyeredom Kwadwo Sito, Omanhene of Banda Traditional Area at Banda Ahenkro at his palace after inspecting the Nsawkaw Senior High School project.

Okokyeredom Sito pledged the support of the traditional authorities for the government to accelerate the development of the area.

He commended the government for the implementation of some development initiatives as well as the efforts of political and local leaders in ensuring the total development of the area.

Mr. Asiedu Nketia indicated government’s readiness to create six more electoral areas to add up to the two existing ones at Banda, adding "a Legislative Instrument (LI) 2115 has been passed to that effect”.

He acknowledged the area’s rich natural and mineral resource endowment, which he said had great potential and prospects for economic prosperity.

The NDC General Secretary said, royalties from Bui Dam and property rates would be paid to the Banda Traditional Council and Banda District Assembly respectively.

He pledged government’s willingness to support the construction of the Bandaman Senior High School and appealed to them to work out modalities for the possible establishment of a technical/vocational school and commercial institutions, so graduates from the technical school could be employed in the technical departments of the dam.

He appealed to the chiefs to bury all differences and forge ahead in unity for the development of the area.**