Chiana (UE), June 2, GNA - Former President Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday called on the government to be more vibrant and fast-track the country's economic situation. He said the expectations of Ghanaians were very high as the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC)

made electoral promises that raised public hope in the party. The former President made the call when he attended the final funeral rites of the Paramount Chief of the Chiana Traditional Area, Pe Rowland Adiali Ayagitam II who died four years ago. Flt. Lt. Rawlings said: "People are beginning to lose hope and this must not be allowed to continue. Government must be more proactive."

He noted that failure by the NDC to deal with the situation now would affect the party and mar its effort to re-capture power in 2012.

The former Head of State said he was not happy about the governance style of the NDC and the handling of issues of corruption by some members of the previous administration. He explained that the only way Ghanaians would appreciate the fact that the present Government inherited an ailing economy was to allow the justice system to deal with corrupt officials of the previous Government.

Flt. Lt. Rawlings claimed that there was too much impunity with the country's justice system.

The former leader said Pe Ayagitam contributed significantly to the socio-economic development of his

people and the nation as a whole. He said people should learn from the exemplary life of the Chiana-Pio to move the development of the

nation forward. He advised the royal family of the Chiana Traditional Area not to do anything that would lead to violence

and conflict when choosing a successor to the skin. Flt. Lt. Rawlings said they must choose somebody who is respectful, compassionate and worthy of the

status of a chief. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo said the people in the Region cherished former

President because under his leadership a lot of development took place, including electricity, good road

network and the University for Development Studies. He noted that government was implementing a number of interventions that would address the poverty

situation in the North and entreated people in the area to exercise restraint whilst the programmes bore

fruit. Mr. Innocent Kwaratogu Ayagitam, Regent of the Chiana Traditional Area, said the late chief was

instrumental in the building of schools and health facilities in the area. He said it was the dream of Pe Ayagitam to lobby for the construction of a dam for the people in the area

to facilitate all-year- round irrigation farming and to ensure that the Chiana Senior High School, which

served four traditional areas, was made a model academic facility. The former President presented 1,000 Ghana cedis to the bereaved family.