Saboba (NR), Feb. 15, GNA - Mr Asumah Namoro Sanda, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Saboba/Cheriponi has said the December general election would not, in any way affect progress of on-going development projects throughout the country.

He therefore, appealed to the people to remain calm and become part of the development process to ensure that there was co-operation and peace for continued development of their communities.

Mr Sanda said this on Saturday, in Saboba during the second annual Guinea Corn (Ndipoadan) celebration of the Chiefs and people of Saboba Traditional Area. Ndipoadan is an annual festival by the people of Konkombaland (Kikpakpang) to show appreciation and love to God for a successful harvest of guinea corn.

During the celebration, citizens of the area, both within and abroad are expected to come and contribute their quota towards the development of the area to ensure that there was continued food for all. This year's celebration was on the theme: "The Campaign on education for all, the role of chiefs in achieving the set goals by 2005 and HIV/AIDS pandemic".

Mr Sanda said the government would not halt any project because of the elections but would rather complete all of them before the elections in December for the people to have confidence in the government.

He said, for instance, that all road projects in the Saboba/Cheriponi District, which had been awarded would start before the rains set in to confirm government's commitment to developing and linking all communities to district capitals.

Mr Sanda said the commencement and completion of the roads in the district became necessary due to the deplorable nature of the roads, adding that the entire road network was flooded last year for a period of five months, which affected revenue collection.

He called on chiefs to continue to play in lead role to mobilize the people for development particularly in the area of education, water and sanitation, which would also improve the living conditions of the people.

He appealed to the chiefs to use such forums to educate the people particularly the youth on the dangers and effects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic to abstain from sex or be faithful to their partners. The Paramount chief of the Saboba Traditional Area, Uchabob-Bor Bowan Kwadin II, called for peace and cooperation in the Traditional Area for development.

He said education was now the main aim of the elders of Saboba area and that all chiefs within the traditional area were committed to ensuring that all children were sent to school, adding that they were all ready to discard outmoded cultural practices for the development of the area.

He commended NGOs working in Saboba for improving the educational sector in the district and assured his support to any group and individual, who worked to promote education in the district.

Mr. Nayon M. Bilijo, Member of Parliament for Saboba Constituency called for teamwork and cooperation to develop Saboba and the surrounding communities, adding that formal education was key to progress.

The MP expressed concern that the water shortage situation in Saboba had existed for more than six months now. He added, "It is sad that at a time when Former US President Jimmy Carter came to the region to help fight guinea worm, Saboba was depending on dam water, which would worsen the guinea worm cases in the region."

He called on the District Assembly to correct the anomaly before the situation got out of control.

Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister advised citizens of Saboba, who were pursuing higher education to return home and work and contribute to the rapid development of the area.

He appealed to chiefs and people of the area not only to use the occasion for merry-making but should also deliberate on developmental issues related to social and economic progress.

He charged chiefs and the people to work tirelessly to stop acts of indiscipline that would degrade the environment and advised them to be committed to peace-making to end the Dagbon conflict.