Tarkwa (W/R) July 10, GNA - The high cost of maintaining security in the Wassa West district, as a result of protracted chieftaincy disputes that occasionally degenerate into violent conflicts, continue to have a toll on the District Assembly's finances, Madam Sophia Horner-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, has said.

She said this is one of the major problems that had contributed to the comparatively dismal performance of the Assembly in the provision of infrastructure for the development of the district.

Madam Horner-Sam was speaking after a two-day tour of the district, during which she inspected some completed and ongoing development projects in some communities including Tarkwa, Aboso, Asankrom, Bogoso, Prestea, Tamso, Mile ten and half, Huni Valley, Dompim and Simpa. The projects included the 1.3 billion cedis District Assembly Hall, the 732.5 million cedis Police barracks and the rehabilitation of some roads at Tarkwa and the Tarkwa-Tamso by-pass costing 2.1 billion-cedis. The other projects were a library, classroom block, market, drainage, roads, water and sanitation, public toilets and four unit teachers' quarters, at Simpa.

The Deputy Regional Minister noted that the District Assembly had been compelled to finance peacekeeping operations and cater for displaced persons in some conflict areas and appealed to the Chiefs to cooperate with the Government to find peaceful and lasting solution.