Regional News of Tuesday, 24 July 2007

Source: GNA

Awutu Traditional Council calls for separate district

Accra, July 24, GNA - The Awutu Traditional Council on Tuesday appealed to Government to create a separate District for the Area and rescind its decision to elevate the Kasoa Township to a municipal status.

A statement signed by the Mankrado for Awutu, Nana Kwao Kurabi, said granting the request would enable the area to catch up with development projects since Awutu generated two-third of the revenue for the District Assembly.

It said the Area was qualified to be separated from Effutu and Senya, since it met all requirements spelt out in the Local Government Act 462 which said an area should have a population of 75,000, must be geographically and economically viable and has the ability to provide the economic infrastructure and other development needs from resources generated within the area. The statement said the Council therefore found it difficult to understand why Government had refused to create a district for the area, although it had a population of 125,000 and the needed infrastructure and resources.

It said the Council was surprised when after several appeals made to a Committee chaired by Captain Nkrabeah Effah Darteh (rtd), former Deputy Minister of the Interior in 2003, 30 districts were approved leaving the area out. " We ask Government to ensure that social justice, fair play and transparency prevail in dealing with all people. We take this opportunity to urge the Member of Parliament for Awutu, Mr. Opaye Abbey to be up and doing to ensure that Awutu gets its District if only he wants to retain his seat", the statement added.