Bolgatanga, Sept. 13, GNA - Mr. Andrew Awuni, Deputy Minister of Information, has said that Ghana is at a threshold of exploding into prosperity and therefore needs the support of every citizen for a successful take-off.

Citing existing opportunities provided by the HIPC relief fund, the Millennium Challenge Accounts as well as the international goodwill and favourable rating of Ghana abroad, Mr. Awuni said it was only a matter of time for the country to emerge from the economic doldrums. He further mentioned a concession government had introduced, under which 40 districts across the country, including Bongo District, had been selected to benefit from fee-free basic education, with effect from this September, and said such unprecedented gesture was a signal that more good things would follow.

"Things are beginning to look bright but we have to bear in mind that any false move on our part could send this country sliding back into extremely difficult circumstances", he cautioned. The Deputy Minister was speaking at a press soiree held for media practitioners in Bolgatanga to round off a recent two-day working tour of the Upper East Region by his colleague, Mr. Stephen Asamoah Boateng.

He underlined the need for stability and peace in the country, particularly as the December polls draw closer, and called for decency and circumspection on the part of political party functionaries in the conduct of their campaigns.

Mr. Awuni said media practitioners, especially owed it as a duty to safeguard the nation's stability and promote the democratic process. He urged journalists to be responsible in their reportage, and to interpret policies such as the National Health Insurance Scheme and all other issues of national importance simply and objectively to the comprehension of the average citizen.

On his part, Mr. Boateng said contrary to the pronouncements of the government's critics the benefits of HIPC are now available for all to see, adding, "we in government, however, do not intend to do politics with the HIPC successes story." He indicated that the present government has kept its word by tackling the five major issues it pledged in its manifesto four years ago, citing good governance, private sector development, abolition of the Cash and Carry System, modernisation of the agricultural sector, and infrastructural development.

Mr. Boateng was optimistic that with this performance record, Ghanaians would return the government to power for the next four years to enable it to continue its development agenda. He iterated government's determination to spread development to all parts of the country without discrimination or partisan considerations.