Awutu (C/R) Aug.10, GNA- Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Friday asked Ghanaians not to play politics with the current energy crisis, which, he said, was a serious national issue that should demand the attention of all.

"We should not do cheap politics with the energy crisis," he stressed when he addressed a durbar of the chiefs and people of Awutu Traditional Area, at the start of a three-day official visit to the Central Region.

He said Government had adopted a holistic approach in solving the crisis, including options such as thermal, solar, renewal energy and the construction of smaller dams.

Vice President Mahama said next week President John Agyekum Kufuor would cut the sod for the commencement of work on the Bui Hydro-electricity Dam.

"It is good news that the water level in the Akosombo dam is rising," he observed.

He said Government had introduced contingency measures to tackle the crisis such as the installation of generators to supply power to the business community.

Vice President Mahama expressed concern about the spate of motor accidents on the highways, which he said, was claiming precious lives and asked drivers and pedestrians to be extra cautions to prevent the phenomenon.

Nenyi Kwakorabi of the Awutu Tradtional Area, appealed to the government to improve on roads in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya area to facilitate the carting of foodstuff and the promotion of tourism. He also called for the demarcartion of the area into a District, saying the size and population of the locality merit the request. Nenyi Kwakorabi commended the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for promoting good governance and appealed to supporters and members of the party to throw their weight behind the Vice President in his bid to lead the NPP to the 2008 General Election.

"Vice President Mahama has served the President very well, which has led to peace and stability," he noted. The Vice President earlier, inaugurated a three-classroom block at the Kasoa Akwelle-Nkwanta Anglican Primary and Junior Secondary School (JSS), built by Government at the cost of 360 million Ghana cedis.

He also inspected works on a 1.7 billion-cedi-six classroom block of the school. The money also covers the provision of a fence wall and renovation of a five classroom JSS block.

At Winneba, Vice President Mahama paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief, Neeyi Ghartey, where he described chiefs as great partners in development.

He complained about the numerous conflicts bedeviling the chieftaincy institution and called on chiefs to use their wise counsel to address such problems.

Vice President Mahama appealed to chiefs to release lands to investors to promote wealth generation.

Neeyi Ghartey asked Government to streamline the operation of the National Health Insurance Scheme, which, he said. was being hampered by mal- administration.

Vice President Mahama also interacted with the Winneba Muslim community, where he asked them to embrace secular education to promote their personal development. He inspected works on the multi-million-cedi Awutu- Effutu-Senya District Assembly office complex. 10 Aug. 07