The Presidential Candidate of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom has asked the people of the Asebu Traditional Area to consider the quantum of investment he had made in the central region and the country as a whole and vote for him in the December polls.

He said they should cast their votes based on merit and competence and not on tribal lines, stressing that the people of Asebu should not vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) because the Vice President Mr Papa Kwesi Amissah Arthur is from Moree, which is part of the Asebu Traditional Area.

Dr Nduom made the call when he joined the chiefs and people of the Asebu on Saturday to climax the celebration of this year’s Apayamkese festival at Asebu under the theme: “Empowering the Youth through Education - key to Development”.

Apayamkese festival is celebrated annually by all the 26 communities that make up the Asebu Traditional Area of which they recall their ancestors and also to take stock and make amends where necessary.

The festival is also used to honour people who have contributed to the development of the area. This year, Dr Nduom and Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur, were both honoured for their generosity and support for the development of the area. Each was presented with a citation and a kente cloth.

The occasion was also used to honour four best teachers and three students of which the teachers were presented with items including motor bikes, gas cookers and fridges whilst the students were received cash and books awards.

Dr Nduom said as a practical man he would fulfill his campaign promises, adding that he would not only make education free at the basic level but also build community school-complex in the area.

He said he had been able to provide job avenues and had employed hundreds of people and when given the nod he would do more than what he was already doing. He said he was ready to partner the Asebu Fruits and flavors factory to restore it to its rightful place.

He said he was also prepared to establish a branch of First National Bank in the area if the chiefs would make land available for him to start the structure immediately.

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe said the government was still committed at providing school structures, uniforms, exercise books in all communities to make education accessible and affordable.

She said in the past four years the Region had benefitted from more than 150 new school blocks stocked with enough furniture and other logistics that would enhance teaching and learning.

The Regional Minister said plans were advanced to revamp the Komenda sugar factory to create jobs for the youth and added that the necessary documents concerning the project had been put before Parliament and that work would soon begin.

On the December election, she asked all to make sure the exercise was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere and urged the youth not to engage in violent acts, stressing that the Region was not noted for electoral violence and that they should endeavour to maintain the record.

Okatakyi Dr Amenfi VII, Omenhen of the Asebu Traditional Area, who is also the Vice President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, commended the government for putting in place measures that had made it possible for political parties to conduct “clean campaigns and politics”.

He said although the area had benefitted from a number of development projects, it was challenged with bad roads and asked that as a matter of urgency the Eguasi–Amosima road should be worked on.

He also appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency and the relevant agencies to come to their aid due to erosions.

Okatakyi again appealed to the government to take over the management of the Moree community school. He also called for a medical doctor to be posted to the Moree Clinic and upgrade the facility to a hospital.

He said plans were advanced to start a state college at Amosima and called on all the people of the area both home and abroad to support the project to enable it start in the 2013-2014 academic year.

Daasebre Kweebu Ewusi, a Council of State member appealed to the people in the area to support the Omenhen to execute his developmental agenda.

On the December 7th election, he asked all to ensure that it was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.