Mr D. S. Boateng, Minister of Employment and Social Welfare said at Akpafu-Mempeasem at the weekend that the total development of all rural communities remains the cardinal objective of the government. The government, he said, would therefore pursue policies and programmes aimed at improving the standard of living thepeople in these areas.

Inaugurating the Akpafu Mempeasem Citizens Association (AMCA) Mr Boateng said it was against the background that the government was seriously reviewing the value added tax (VAT) system in response to concerns expressed by the people. "But in so doing the government is very mindful of its commitment to development and progress of the country, especially the rural areas." he stressed. Mr Boateng therefore advised every community in the country to embark on self-help projects to complaint efforts being made by the government. On conflicts and disputes, Mr Boateng noted that no community could achieve any meaningful development without peace and therfore appealed to the AMCA to speedily resolve all disputes and conflicts prevailing in thier communities and the Akpafu Traditional Area as a whole. Mr W. T. Puplampu, Hohoe District Chief Executive, said C20 million has been released for the rehabilitation of the local health st while C10 million has been set aside for the provision of a transformer for their secondary Technical school from the District Assembly Common Fund. The inauguration of the association which was aimed at raising funds for the provision of potable water under assistance from DANIDA yielded C4.7 million during an appeal for funds. A special levy of C5,000 has been imposed on each member of the association to raise money for the provision of additional classrooms for the local Secondary/Technical School.