Tepa (Ash), Jan. 22, GNA- Mr Enoch Sadat, a butcher at Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North District has appealed to the Ashanti Regional Crime Officer to investigate circumstances surrounding the release some drug peddlers arrested at Tepa Zongo by the Ashanti Regional Narcotics Control Unit.

Making the appeal at the People's Forum at Tepa on Monday, he said residents at the Tepa Zongo heaved a big sign of relief when those dealing in Indian hemp were arrested.

Mr Sadat said those arrested were back in the area and doing business as usual and the rumour was that they paid money to gain their freedom.

He regretted that the rate at which the youth in the area were taking to drugs, especially the Indian hemp was alarming and had hoped that the arrest of the peddlers would have helped to stem the situation.

Earlier, Mr Akwasi Adu Poku, the District Chief Executive had told the people that it was the responsibility of the government to ensure that the rural areas were developed to make life meaningful for a larger percentage of the population of the country.

He mentioned a number of development projects undertaken by the Assembly and the financial assistance to some institutions and people in the district under the HIPC fund, Community Water and Sanitation (CWSA), GETFund, the Common Fund and the Village Infrastructure Project (VIP). Mr Adu Poku said three Area Councils at Manfo, Betiako and Suponso have been completed and ready for use.

He said 572 people have been given loans for their businesses, while 560 Basic schoolgirls, 120 Senior Secondary School (SSS) students, 40 teacher trainees and eight students in the tertiary institutions have been awarded scholarships from the assembly's share of the common fund.