Suhum, Nov 30, GNA- Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, the Eastern Regional Minister, has re -iterated that government would not intimidate any group of persons or citizens because of their political affiliation.

He said the government was poised to create a better Ghana for all and would not be distracted.

Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people of Suhum to mark the Odwira festival of the town where rumours were being peddled that military personnel who had been brought to the town to complement the efforts of the police in crime combat were

there to harass citizens of the town. He said the military were to partner the police to combat the recent armed robbery and

serial killing in the town and noted that the military had been cautioned to be professional in

their operations and could not harass any citizen. The Regional Minister told the people that the district assembly was the planning authority

in the area therefore people must respect their development plans and stop thwarting the

efforts of the assembly. He said reports reaching him indicated that people were reading political meaning into

efforts of the assembly to carry out its mandate and stated that government would not

countenance acts by a few people to throw development out of gear. Mr Samuel Kwabi, the Suhum-Kraboa-Coaltar District Chief Executive (DCE), said

indiscipline at Suhum was becoming too much and that plots of land earmarked for national

projects were being encroached upon and the assembly was being vilified in attempt to bring

decency in the town. He said people were reading political meanings into every policy and programme that the

assembly embarked upon. The Member of Parliament for Suhum, Mr Fredrick Opare Ansah, said the period of

campaign and divisions were over and it was high time everyone put politics behind and to

support the assembly to develop the area. He said disrespect for authority could not be condoned in the name of political affiliation

and called for support by all well meaning citizens to push the development agenda of the

area forward. The Chief of Suhum, Osabarima Aye Kofi, said despite the cosmopolitan mix of the people in Suhum all had coexisted peacefully and called for a stop to the seeming political division in the area. He said an education fund had been initiated alongside the Odwira festival and about 100 pupils had benefited since its inception two years ago. Osabarima Aye Kofi said the foundation had also identified 100 needy people in the area and paid the premium of the National Health Insurance Scheme for them to enable them.