General News of Tuesday, 26 May 2009

Source: GNA

Mills begins a two-day visit to Upper East Region

Bolgatanga, May 26, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills begins a two-day working visit to the Upper East Region on Wednesday. An itinerary drawn for the visit included a courtesy call on the Chief of Bolgatanga, Naba Martin Abilba III, meeting with Bawku Naba, Naba Azoka Asigri Abugrago II and other chiefs from Kassena Nankana East District.

He would meet religious leaders, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Party Executives, opinion leaders and address a durbar of chiefs and people of Upper East Region in Bolgatanga.

Many people the Ghana News Agency (GNA) interviewed about the visit of President Mills said they were looking forward to seeing him and expected to show that the visit was for everyone and not only NDC supporters.

Mr Donatus Nyaaba, a Tutor at Bolgatanga Polytechnic and an Executive Member of NDC in Upper East Region, said most of the people in the Region would like to know the short term measures being instituted by President Mills to improve the living standards of the people. He said these included replacing the staff of some organisations and institutions with NDC Party sympathisers thereby empowering them to strengthen the Party.

"Actions on anti corruption and armed robbery should be more forceful, instead of relying on individuals to give evidence to crime like bribery at offices and on the roads, secret investigations could be carried out to arrest the perpetrators," he said.

Mr Clement Akasoba, Upper East Regional Youth Organiser of NDC said the public would like President Mills to deliver a speech that would unite the people to work towards achieving a common goal, that was developing the area.

"President Mills always talked about being President for all and other party supporters were anxious to see whether his two-day interaction with them would show that he was there for all," he added. Ms Diana Kombat, a hairdresser in Bolgatanga said she was excited about President Mills' visit and "would like all to see him healthy and strong because some people had sought to create the impression that he was sick".

She said she was expecting to hear that young people trying to start businesses on their own would be given assistance.