Bekwai (Ashanti) - Kofi Poku-Adusei, Member of Parliament for Asante-Bekwai, has called for changes in the civil service to shed off the excessive bureaucracy.

''Implementation of most government approved projects is being unreasonably delayed by lack of urgency, apathy and 'red tape' on the part of the civil service.''

Poku-Adusei was addressing a meeting with New Patriotic Party (NPP) ward chairmen and other party supporters in the constituency. He said the attitude of civil servants worried politicians. "We, unlike them, are held to promises we make to the electorate and for that matter cannot afford costly delays in the take-off of projects we manage to get for our constituents.''

''The politician will have to go back to the people and will be judged by the level of development he or she brings to the people". The MP said there was the need to give the civil service some flexibility to enable it to respond timely and promptly to demands on it.

Poku-Adusei told them that construction work would soon start at the Bekwai Government's Hospital project new site. Streets in the township were also to be tarred to bring Bekwai to a status that befits a district capital.

Richard Aboagye, Amansie East District Chief Executive, said the district that, two years ago, was among the worst in Ashanti Region in terms of revenue generation, was now one of the best due to prudent financial administration and transparency.

He said from its own internally generated resources, the assembly has bought a vehicle and was implementing a number of development projects in various communities.

Aboagye praised the assembly's revenue collectors for their hard work and dedication to duty, adding, ''The assembly does not want to depend on the common fund for development.''