Takoradi, Dec 30, GNA- Mr Obeng Gyan Busia, Special Assistant to the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, on Tuesday said it is the belief of the NPP government that the country's democracy would be meaningful only when the rural areas are well-developed through decentralization.

He was speaking at the launch of the centenary celebration of the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA) in Takoradi. It has the theme:"100 Years of SAEMA Turning the Fortunes Round In Our Times".

Mr Busia said the government has shown its commitment to the development of rural areas during its three years' rule. He said a number of Sub-Metropolitan Councils as well as Urban and Municipal Councils had been created throughout the country.

Mr Busia said SAEMA had been given two more Sub-Metropolitan Councils and an additional constituency, the Essikado Constituency, bringing the number of constituencies in the metropolis to five. He said the Ministry is considering the allocation of resources direct to the area councils where the grassroots mobilization is centred to speed up the process of development and growth.

Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, called on Assembly members to pay attention to sanitation in their areas. She said the Metropolis should be kept clean if the Assembly is to make the area a major tourist destination.

Mrs. Asmah who is the Member of Parliament for Takoradi expressed concern about how some children of school-going age in the metropolis are not in school and rather helping their parents in trading. Mr. Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the assembly is planning to establish a University in the Metropolis. He said the assembly would soon introduce a face-lift programme that would include the development of the Takoradi Market circle.