Mahama

Hohoe, Oct. 26, GNA - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama said with the passing of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Bill into law, the government was leaving no stone unturned to put in place structures to facilitate the implementation of the scheme.

He reminded Ghanaians of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)'s campaign promise to abolish the cash and carry system, which was negatively affecting the health delivery system in the country.

These were contained in a speech read for Alhaji Mahama by Mr Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister at durbar of chiefs and people of Hohoe.

The gathering was organised to mark the eighth celebration of the Gbidukorza festival on Saturday under the theme "Consolidating Gbidukor Unity and Development".

Alhaji Mahama expressed concern about activities of people he referred to as "disgruntled and unpatriotic" who had engaged themselves in a campaign of misinformation to frustrate the smooth implementation of the scheme.

He, however, gave the assurance that the government would ensure that the scheme was implemented in the interest of the people. Alhaji Mahama, therefore, called on Ghanaians to shun politicians who were using their influence to frustrate the government's efforts at ensuring good health for the people.

The Vice-President noted that peace was universally acknowledged as a tool for socio-economic development.

He, consequently, appealed to the chiefs and people of the Volta Region in particular and those in other parts of the country to resolve land and chieftaincy disputes to pave way for development.

Alhaji Mahama Said: "It is time we find solutions to long time disputes and conflicts such as the Peki-Tsito, the Nkonya-Alavanyo and other land disputes and numerous chieftaincy conflicts in the region".

Alhaji Mahama asked the people, chiefs, assembly members and other opinion leaders to ensure peaceful and early settlements of disputes and warned that the " the law would not spare anyone who decides to act in its total disregard"

He expressed concern about the spread of HIV/AIDS and its effect on the development of the country and called on Ghanaians to help fight against the disease.

The Paramount Chief of the Peki Traditional Area, Togbe Kodzo Dei XI, announced that an economic development plan for the Traditional Area for 2002-2011 has been prepared as a blueprint and guide to attract investors to the area.

He said plans aimed at restoring Hohoe as the commercial capital of the region were also on course.

The Paramount Chief said measures would be put in place to ensure that people in both the private and public sectors assist in the rehabilitation and improvement of school infrastructure to improve education in the area.

Togbe Dei apprealed to the government to reconstruct the Kpeve-Hohoe and the Golokwati-Bimbilla trunk roads, which was launched in 1969, by the then Progress Party government.

He announced that through his efforts the University of Maryland Eastern shore in the United States of America had decided to establish a campus at Peki, adding that two square miles of land has been made available for the commencement of the project.

The Chiefs and People of Gbinyigbe and Gbidzigbe to mark their flight from the tyrannical rule of king Agorkorli of Notsie in Togo in the 17th Century celebrate the festival annually.

The people of Gbinyigbe settled at Peki while the people of Gbidzigbe settled around Hohoe. The festival, which is celebrated annually, rotates between the two traditional areas.