President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday said government would continue to build on the progress it had over the years made in the advancement of porters (kayeyei) in the cities.

He said in a bid to stem the drift of young girls from the northern sector to the southern sector to engage in the practice, government in collaboration with the Council for Technical and Vocational Enterprise Training had started training the porters in hairdressing and dressmaking.

The beneficiaries, he explained, would be made to return home to train others and dissuade them from moving to the urban areas for non-existent jobs.

President Mahama announced this at Nanton in the northern region, when he addressed a mini-rally as part of his five-day campaign tour of the northern region.

He also called on Gulkpegu Naa, Dakpemah Naa, Bug Lana, Lameshegu Lana, Sheik Bayan, sagnar Naa, Nyankpala Lana, Tolon Regent, Kumbugu Naa, Nanton Naa, Yoo Naa,visited Central Mosque,Ahmaddiyya and Afa Ajura mosques and addressed students of the Business Senior High (BISCO in Tamale).

The President condemned political opponents for advocating the construction of hostels as he said that action could perpetuate the movement of young girls from the North to the southern areas of the country.

He challenged the New Patriotic Party to come out to point to the people of Nanton what they did for them in their eight years of governance, adding “It is the NDC that has provided clinics, schools, electricity and will continue to support Nanton and other communities in the country to realize their social and economic potentials.

President mahama said apart from the programmes, adequate measures had been put in place to make education accessible, affordable and acceptable at all levels and locations.

On electricity, President Mahama said the perennial load-shedding would become a thing of the past by the end of 2012 as government was gearing up to add more power to the current facilities that would empower the country to be self-sufficient and a net exporter of energy.

The Chiefs and communities were unanimous in commending government for the provision of school, health and electricity facilities and appealed to government to continue to support them in the areas of roads, potable water and sanitation facilities.