Sawaba (B/A), Jan. 29, GNA- The chiefs and people of Sawaba near Kintampo in the Brong-Ahafo Region, have to the Regional Minister to help fill a 15-feet deep pit that stretches over more than a kilometre in the area.

Mr. Oscar Boateng, Assembly Member, made the appeal on behalf of the people to Mr. Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Regional Minister at a people's assembly at Kunsu in Kintampo North district. He said the pit, sited a few metres along the Kintampo-Tamale highway claimed six lives last year.

The Assembly Member added that the community had covered a part of the pit with a wooden structure to serve as a bridge to enable them to go to their farms.

Mr. Boateng said the community had made several appeals to Mr. Razak Abdulai, District Chief Executive, who allegedly explained that the project was beyond the means and efforts of the Assembly. "During rainy seasons, water collects in the pit and overflows into the surrounding areas, causing fear and panic among the people", he said.

The Assembly Member recounted an instance when two children met their untimely deaths when they slipped and fell into the pit when returning home from the farm.

Mr. Boateng said a few weeks ago an ex-serviceman also nearly lost his life when he slipped but for the timely intervention of some people who rescued him.

Mr. Razak Abdulai did not deny the allegation but explained that the Assembly would need billions of cedis to fill the pit. A questioner, Mr. Gabriel Sarkodie, a Disease Control and surveillance officer expressed concern about the outbreak of guinea worm at Gulumpe, Portor and Kadriso in the district. He disclosed that in 2005, 81 cases of the disease were reported as against 82 in 2006.

Mr. Sarkodie said five cases had been reported indicating that the disease would reach an alarming proportion this year and attributed it to lack of potable drinking water.

He said even though the Assembly had dug a number of boreholes, it was not enough to cater for the people and that led many of them to depend on dams and rivers.

Mr. Baffour-Awuah advised the people to boil their water before drinking to help curtail the spread of the disease while the District Assembly digs more boreholes in the communities. He earlier explained that the people's assembly offered an unusual opportunity for the people to interact with government and urged the participants to exhibit a high sense of civility when asking questions. The Regional Minister said the government was committed to alleviating the plight of the people through the creation of more jobs and called on the people to exercise patience. Most of those who asked questions appealed to the District Assembly to construct roads to link the various communities. 29 Jan 07