The Banda Constituency of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has appealed to Government to show concern towards the general social and economic development of the area.

The members complained that maximum socio-economic benefits expected in the District as a result of the construction of the Bui Hydro-electric power dam “have not been provided to them by Government”.

The appeal was made known at a news conference addressed by Mr Nicholas Bawuah, Constituency Chairman of the Party, at Banda-Ahenkro in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

He said a number of auxiliary projects were envisaged under the Bui Project including the Bui City, Bui Eco-tourism, Bui Aqua-Culture and the Bui Irrigation Farms, but so far none have been executed.

Mr Bawuah claimed compensation for lands acquired in the Region for the project “have not been paid to the chiefs, but chiefs in other areas have received theirs”.

He said Banda roads, are in a bad shape including Menji-Ahenkro and Nsawkaw-Boase-Sabiye.

According to him “Black Flies which were almost eliminated in the Banda area under the ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor’s regime through a massive spraying exercise are now a menace, “because “the abrupt ending of the disinfection exercise has paved way for the flies to multiply in their numbers”.

“The flies not only inflict pains through their bite but also carry serious diseases like river blindness,” Mr Bawuah said.

He pleaded with the Government to place the marketing of cashew under the Ghana Cocoa Board for a guaranteed stable price just like cocoa, to create reliable source of income and wealth for people in the Banda area who are predominantly cashew farmers.