The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Prof. D. K. Fobih, last Thursday, assured Ghanaians living abroad that they are now entitled to dual cituzenship which allows them to exercise their franchise in future general elections.

Prof. Fobih made this declaration at the second edition of the "People's Assembly" held in the Central Region.

He, however, explained that because of the numerous polling stations within the country, Ghanaians living abroad would only be entitled to vote in the presidential elections.

The Minister, who was replying to a questioner, admitted that Ghanaians abroad, in view of their remittances to family members at home, contribute to the development of the nation and are, therefore, entitled to exercise their franchise to elect a president of their choice.

He further noted that government's reliance on foreign exchange accruing from the sale of cocoa, gold and timber is now on the decline, and it is for this reason that President J. A. Kufuor has turned his attention to the production of starch, salt and other made-in-Ghana goods.

He, therefore, pleaded with Ghanaians to exercise patience for President Kufuor's initiatives to take their natural course, adding that the 'Meet the People's Forum' is to enable the people to ask government officials questions they do not understand and, where possible, offer suggestions.

The Central Regional Minister, Mr. Isaac Eduasar Edumadze, on his part, stated that as part of the government's determination to set up industries to offer employment for the people of the region, the Komenda Sugar factory is being rehabilitated and, as such, a sugarcane nursery has been set up at Nsadwer, a village near Komenda, while the government had also imported some 200 million high yielding sugarcane seedlings from India to supplement the local brand.

On indiscipline, a contributor pointed out that children in nursery schools and Junior Secondary Schools cannot be blamed for indiscipline and called on the authorities to focus their attention on SSS and tertiary institutions. But the questioner was told that what was needed most is the reformation of children from their infancy to their adulthood that is very important hence churches have been called upon to be responsible for the running of schools in the country.

A teacher from Abrem Essiam Primary School criticized the Ghana Education Services (GES) for not supplying teachers to the local primary 1 - 3 over the past four years, thus compelling the citizens to take it upon themselves to engage three (3) SSS leavers for the pupils at their own expense.

Another contributor who wanted to know from the Regional Minister, why an auditor he (Mr. Edumadze) appointed to audit the account of the Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM) and paid ?30 million has been imposed on the commission as its chief executive at the expense of the nation, but nobody gave any reasons to justify the appointment of that auditor who had worked and collected a fee of that colossal amount and still remains the executive of the same commission he audited.

Another teacher called the attention of government to ensure that the European Union (EU) school blocks without windows are fitted with windows because pupils studying in such school blocks have had to strain their eyes before they can see and feared that if the situation is not corrected it might affect the sight of the children before they reach SSS.

Earlier in a welcome address, the DCE for Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem district, Nana Ato Arthur, explained to the large gathering that the people's assembly concept is to provide a platform for government officials to account for the two years stewardship of the President of the republic as well as offer an opportunity for participants to ask questions and share views on the nation's young democracy.

Also in attendance were Municipal Chief Executive for Cape Coast, Mr. Muniru Arafat Nuhu, Hon. Thomas Broni, Deputy Minister of Lands and Forestry.