Lambussie (UW), March 17, GNA - Mr Ambrose Dery, Upper West Regional Minister on Wednesday urged traditional rulers in the region to accept female members of district assemblies as collaborators in the development process and not people who were duplicating their functions or usurping their powers

According to him, he had reports indicating that some Chiefs were not comfortable with the role of Assemblywoman in their communities, saying such an attitude was not healthy for the growth of democracy Mr Dery said this when he interacted with the Chiefs, elders and people of the Lambussie traditional area during a familiarization visit to the Jirapa/Lambussie District

Other issues which came up for discussion during the interaction included, the rehabilitation of roads in the area, which the people said were very deplorable, repair of broken down telephone facilities, provision of dams and dug-outs and the need for more trained teachers to man schools in the area.

The Regional Minister called on district assemblies to sponsor more teacher trainees and to give them adequate motivation after their courses to enable them to stay and serve their people. He explained that the government was doing its best to make the roads in the area motorable and said many of them had been awarded on contract.

The Regional Minister expressed regrets that some of the contactors were performing below expectation.

He called on community leaders to set up Watchdog Committees to complement the government's efforts at protecting state property and facilities from being stolen or destroyed by saboteurs. Mr Dery observed that electricity poles and cables had either been burnt or stolen in several communities in broad daylight and said it was bound to undermine the extension of electricity.

Kuoro Iddrisu Bamie, Paramount Chief of the Lambussie gave the assured the Minister of their support.