Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon. S. K. Boafo is bitter about the neglect of the Ashanti Region by the previous NDC government.

He noted that the NDC intentionally neglected Ashanti, development wise.

"It was a calculated attempt by the NDC to stifle development in the region", he complained.

The minister raised this concern when executives of the local Ghana Institution of Engineers (GIE) called on him at his office.

Boafo deplored the situation in the Ashanti belt of the Afram Plains where the plight of the people are said to be unbearable.

"The place has virtually nothing to make life worthwhile. No roads, no water and electricity", he pointed out.

Regional Minister Boafo mentioned in particular Oku, a village in the area where children under five years have to travel long distances to source drinking water before they go to school.

Boafo, therefore, appealed to the Engineers to avail themselves of the general development of the region by working to correct the situation.

He suggested expert and technical advice on development programmes in the region.

Regional chairman of GIE Ing., George Akwaboah observed that the infrastructural development of the metropolis did not correspond to the rapid expansion and physical development and called for rectification of the situation.

He mentioned poor road network and drainage systems at new settlements and insanitary conditions as areas needing priority attention for development.

Akwaboah also mentioned general environmental degradation, inadequate water and electricity supply and insufficient communication facilities for consideration.

According to Akwaboah, inadequate funding, planning regulations and enforcement, societal attitude, changes and illegal acquisition and distribution of land by chiefs are the causes of under-development of infrastructure in the metropolis.

The incoming National President of GIE, Ing. Adu Nyarko suggested that for proper development, plans should be designed afore-hand for execution and not depend on crash programmes which have no place for effective planning.

He assured that the over 250 members of GIE in the region are ready to avail their services of the development of the region.