Politics of Monday, 8 November 2004

Source: GNA

Minister speaks on political pronouncements

Worawora (V/R), Nov. 8, GNA - Major Courage Quashigah (rtd), Minister of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) at the weekend decried as defeatist the emerging trends where politicians limited their scope to who initiated development projects and programmes, rather than the benefits such projects brought to the people.

He said politicians should refrain from making comments such as "we negotiated the funds, initiated the project or have it on the drawing board," as an acceptance of not doing much for the people.

Maj. Quashigah who was addressing a durbar of Chiefs and people of Worawora in the Jasikan district, to climax their annual Akwantuteten festival said the political will to continue with such projects was unprecedented in the history of the country.

He therefore, appealed to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to appreciate government's efforts at not stalling any development project it inherited from its predecessor.

The Minister catalogued several development projects, including the Keta Sea Defence project where government's component was dutifully paid and about 85 percent of work was executed under the NPP and some major road construction on-going in the Volta region.

Maj. Quashigah called on politicians to base their campaigns on issues and also "be bold to tell the electorate their failures, inabilities and neglects".

He advised NPP supporters to vote "up and down suit and avoid voting along skirt and blouse lines".

Maj. Quashigah said even though he is the sole Cabinet Minister, the region had several development projects and therefore, appealed to the people to vote massively for the party for larger representation, to enable them champion the development aspirations of the region. Mr. Kwasi Owusu-Yeboa, Volta Regional Minister and NPP Parliamentary candidate for Biakoye Constituency said though Chiefs are non-partisan, they would cast their votes on December 7, and appealed to them to uphold and strive for the truth.

He urged the people to retain the NPP for continuity of development, democracy and rule of law.

Daasebre Asare Baah II, Omanhene of Worawora appealed to government to establish a vocational and technical school to serve pupils in the area.