Regional News of Thursday, 29 April 2004

Source: GNA

Chiefs and Queenmothers grateful to government

Hohoe, April 29 GNA- Chiefs and Queenmothers in six districts of the northern sector in the Volta region have expressed their appreciation to government for the efforts in pursuing development projects in the areas.

They however, urged government to do more by initiating new projects and also expedite work on some existing amenities including telecommunication system, road infrastructure, extension of electricity and the provision of potable water.

The districts are, Kpando, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Nkwanta and Kete-Krachi.

They made the appeal when the Deputy Minister of Information, Mr Stephen Asamoah Boateng paid a working visit to the areas to propagate government policies and interact with the traditional authorities at separate functions.

Nkwanta has no telephone facility and its radio and television reception is not good while those at Kadjebi and Kete-Krachi are undependable.

Nana Abiam Dansu, Ankobiahene of Krachi commended government for tarring three kilometres of town roads, which he described as unprecedented in the district.

He urged the government to facilitate work on the roads to Dambai, which is already awarded on contract and to resolve the frequent breakdown of telecommunication system.

Togbe Yao Bresi VII, Chief of Kpando-Agbenoxoe appealed to government to extend telephone lines to 17 other towns constituting the traditional area, provide the people with potable water and praised it for sustaining work on the Kpando-Worawora-Dambai road.

Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional area urged government to resource the Ministry of Information to enable it discharge its Constitutional duties efficiently.

"If the Ministry was well resourced and equipped you would not be going round propagating government policies, what are your district officers doing then?," he asked the Deputy Minister.

Togbega Gabusu called for the rehabilitation of the Kpeve-Hohoe road to link up the area.

Mr Asamoah Boateng re-assured them about government commitment to developing every part of the country irrespective of ethnic, religious or political affiliation and urged Chiefs to be patient.

He said government would address the telecommunication problem noting, "nobody follows the stead of an elephant and gets entangled by a rope". Mr Asamoah Boateng said Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and GT have started re-engineering their facilities at Akatsi and would soon install a digital transformer to boost the telecommunication system in the northern part of the region.

The Deputy Minister praised the chiefs and people for declaring their support for government. He urged Ghanaians to lift themselves above partisan politics and accommodate each other's views towards ensuring a free, fair and peaceful elections in December.