Jasikan, March 9, GNA - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Thursday called on the people of the Volta Region to throw their weight behind the Kufuor administration to facilitate a comprehensive development for the area.

He said the political history of the country was such that "no condition is permanent" and so if after the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and other successive regimes, God has destined Kufuor to rule this time, then "we must all support him to succeed".

Vice-President Mahama made the call when he interacted with Nana Aburam Akpandza IV, Paramount Chief of the Buem Traditional and his elders as part of his five-day official tour of the Volta Region. He said government did not believe in discrimination but rather viewed every part of the country to be inhabited by people with the same destiny.

Vice-President noted that this was the reason why chiefs in the region should forge ahead in unity of purpose to benefit from the development package of government.

The tour of the Vice-President, which started on Thursday, would take him to seven district of the region.

Vice-President Mahama said government had no intention to use the Representation of People's Act to rig the 2008 elections. He said the Act was made to enfranchise Ghanaians abroad who contribute over two billion dollars annually as remittances to relatives and friends.

The Vice-President said it was left with the Electoral Commission to implement the Act, adding that the onus rested solely on the Commission and not the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. He said the capitation grant and other efforts of government to improve on the educational sector was part of efforts towards poverty eradication.

The Vice-President said every district had been provided with 240 million cedis each to support peasant farmers to improve on production. He said the road sector was being given serious consideration as part of the poverty reduction drive.

Nana Akpandja complained about the poor road network in the area and slow works on the Bueman Senior Secondary School, which is listed among those to be upgraded to first class schools.

Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister also stressed on the need for people to unite to promote President Kufuor's development agenda. The Vice-President later inspected works on the Bueman Senior Secondary School and interacted with staff and students. Mr Oppong Kwesi Brenya, Headmaster, also complained about the stalled works on the project at the school, listing lack of accommodation for staff and students and means of transport as some of the problems the school was facing.

He said the accommodation situation, especially was affecting teaching and learning and enforcement of discipline among students. The Vice-President said the region had four other schools being upgraded under the programme.

He asked the students to be disciplined and independent minded in decision making. The Vice-President also interacted with Nana Ogyeabour Akompi Finam, Omanhene of Kadjebi, where he assured them of government's commitment to tackle the roads in the area, especially the Kadjebi-Kulungugu road.

He said politics was not about religion but development and asked the people to embrace the President's Special Initiative on Palm oil and other development projects to improve their lot.

The Vice-President also assured the people that he would take up appeals by the chiefs for a sports stadium and improvement of telecommunication facilities.

Nana Finam appealed to government to provide a hospital in the area. 09 March 06