Regional News of Wednesday, 3 September 2008

Source: GNA

Distinguish the work of MP and DCEs - Doe-Adjaho

Akatsi (V/R), Sept. 3, GNA - Mr. Edward Doe Adjaho, Member of Parliament (MP) for Ave-Avenor Constituency in the Akatsi District has stressed the need for Ghanaians to distinguish between the duties of MPs from that of the District Chief Executives (DCE) so that they could know exactly where to direct their needs for speedy redress.

He said the district assemblies under the DCEs and MPs perform complementary role and therefore the lack of knowledge as to who should do what had ultimately led to long delays and sometimes a complete failure in the provision of certain pressing needs for the people. Mr Adjaho made this remark in reaction to issues raised about long delays or failure in the provision of some essential needs for the people of Atiglime near Akatsi during the Agbleza celebration of the chiefs and people of the Xevi Traditional Area last Saturday. The MP explained that the execution of projects like roads or schools were the responsibility of the central government whereas minor projects like feeder roads belonged to the domain of the district assemblies.

He therefore appealed to the assembly members and education committees to help create awareness on the definite duties of the MPs and DCEs so that misinformation, rumour mongering and blame-shifting within the district administration could be stopped for good.

Mr Adjaho also advised the people not to use the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections to settle personal scores and grievances but rather, to regard it as an opportunity to use their "thumb power" to choose the best leaders to rule the nation. Mr Tony Abledu, Akatsi DCE urged the farmers to take advantage of the rising prices of food items in the market and cultivate more food stuffs so that they could get more money and increase their purchasing power for secondary goods. Mr. Rek Gademor, District Agric Extension Officer asked farmers to group themselves into small associations so that they could access soft loans, improved seedlings, technical expertise and secure services of tractors that the association could pay for by instalments. He regretted that the lives of most farmers had not improved over the years because they were reluctant to adopt modern techniques of farming centred around mechanisation and fast yielding seeds. Torgbui Tu Agbalekpor IV, Chief of Xevi Traditional Area, who chaired the occasion appealed to political parties not to use insulting and violent language during their electioneering campaigns to inflame animosity and hostility among the people.

The chairman, who is also the Presiding Member of the District Assembly said Ghana is recognised and respected as the pace-setter for human rights initiatives so any act of violence that would plunge the country into chaos and instability should be avoided. In response to an appeal for funds, Mr Adjaho donated 50 bags of cement and 100.00 Ghana cedis cash for rehabilitation work on the Atiglime Kindergarten and Primary School.