Odometa (E/R), July 25, GNA - The people of Odometa, near Asesewa in the Manya Krobo District, have appealed to the government to connect the community to the national electricity grid.

They said apart from promoting the establishment of cottage and small-scale industries, it would also end their dependence on kerosene, which at times forced them to live in darkness at night due to the scarcity of the commodity.

Mr B.B. Matey-Korle, an Opinion Leader, made the call when the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Gustav Narh Dometey visited the area to interact with the people.

They also called for assistance under the Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) and the provision of a gari-processing machine to enable the people, especially women to improve productivity and their incomes. Mr Matey-Korle said the area lacked basic amenities and called for the creation of a district for the people of Upper-Manya. Mr Dometey said the government was determined to improve the living conditions of the people in the constituency by encouraging them to increase their productivity. He said a kerosene tanker would be provided to sell kerosene to them as an interim measure while efforts were being made to extend electricity to the area within the shortest possible time. Mr Dometey urged the people to send their children to school and to provide their basic needs to enable them to attain higher levels of education. The Deputy Minister declared his intention to contest the parliamentary seat in the area on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party in the forthcoming elections and called on the people for support. He later presented two footballs and a kit to the youth in response to an appeal earlier.