The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has appealed to telecommunication providers to work hard to improve on their services to enhance socio-economic development.

He said development is driven by information technology, which the mobile phone service providers play a key role.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu made the call when management of Vodafone Ghana, a leading telecommunication service provider, called on him at the Manhyia Palace.

The group was at the Palace to wish the Asantehene a successful and prosperous 15 years anniversary.

The Asantehene noted that the advent of the telecommunication industry has considerably helped to improve service delivery including education, health, agriculture and environmental sanitation.

Information and Communication Technology has also contributed immensely to make the world a global village where business can be easily transacted across the world in a very liberal manner which Ghana is no exemption.

He was not happy with the intermittent break in services as being experienced now and wished all the bottlenecks shall be addressed to ensure value for money.

The Managing Director of Vodafone Ghana, Kwabena Quansah was overwhelmed by the level of Otumfuo’s achievements for the past 15 years in the areas of education and health.

He said peace and tranquility in Asanteman is unprecedented and hoped the years ahead under the Asantehene’s rule shall see much more development in the social lives of the people.

The group presented assorted drinks to the Asantehene.

Also at the Palace was the newly appointed Chief Executive of the Minerals Commission, Dr. Tony Aubynn.

The Asantehene called for a collaborative effort in dealing with illegal gold mining in the country. He blamed chiefs, who are land owners, as well as government officials, for the upsurge of galamsey activities in Ghana saying if it is not checked it will have a serious consequence on national development.

Dr Aubynn asked politicians to respect the law governing small-scale mining in Ghana and help to flush out the illegal miners from the system.