Gomoa Nyanyano (Central Region) 03 April 2003- The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, on Wednesday assured people in the rural areas of government's continued interaction on regular basis to assess their needs to enable it meet their aspirations.

To this end, Alhaji Aliu said Ministers, District Chief Executives, and other key state functionaries would not sit in their offices but make constant contacts with the people to discuss with them matters affecting their social and economic requirements.

This way, the Vice President contended, would help the government obtain the accurate information, suggestions and ideas that would propel it in its overall planning and sharing of national wealth to ensure equity distribution and acceleration of development projects at all levels.

Alhaji Aliu was speaking at a durbar of chiefs and people Gomoa-Nyanyano as part of his three-day working visit to the Central Region. He said the government will not wait until the election period before it would come to the people to solicit for their votes through such interactions, adding that it is the cardinal responsibility of those at the helm of affairs to make their presence constantly felt by the people to enable them know the problems confronting them and seek their views to ensure national cohesion and progress.

Alhaji Aliu assured the chiefs and people of Nyanyano of the government's support for the implementation of the salt industry in the area to create employment opportunities for the jobless in and around the town.

Commenting on the recent increases in petroleum prices, Alhaji Aliu said the move was to generate adequate funds for the implementation of development projects like, health, education, water, electricity and roads throughout the country.

It would also assist the government to create more avenues for small-scale industries and thereby afford many people the much needed jobs. He asked people in the area to send their children to school, saying that education holds the key to development and elimination of poverty in the society.

The Vice President also charged people in the Gomoa District to fully embrace the Ayensu Cassava Project initiated by the President to help alleviate their economic plight. Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, the out-going Minister of Mines announced that the government has approved 17.2 billion cedis to promote small-scale winning projects in the country.

He said currently the request for 6.1 billion cedis to support 100 small-scale salt winners at Nyanyano had been forwarded to the Minerals Commission for final consideration and approval and appealed to the would-be beneficiaries of the loan to exercise restraint.

Meanwhile, a total of 3.2 billion cedis had been released for disbursement to small-scale salt winners in the Alimena area through the Kakum Rural Bank. Dr Nyaho Tamakloe, a leading member of the NPP assured Ghanaians that the party would deliver on its promises to maintain the trust and confidence they have in the government.

Dr. Tamakloe said the NDC had, however, had its fair chance in the administration of the country, and there is the need for other opposition parties like, the CPP to take over the administration of the country after NPP.

On his part, the MP for Odododiodoo, Niibi Ayi-Bonte, who is also the Chairman of the Premixed Fuel Committee said government subsidises the sale of premixed fuel to the tune of 1.2 billion cedis every month, adding that it costs the nation 4,000 cedis on each gallon of pre-mixed fuel supplied to the various fishing communities.

Miss Joyce Aidoo, Gomoa District Chief Executive, said several development projects have been initiated to better the lot of the people. This include, clinics, schools, markets, gari processing projects and KVIPs.

Nana Obeng Wiabo V, Gomoa-Nyanyanohene, called for financial and material support from the government to help them execute a number of self-help projects they have initiated.

The Vice President had earlier addressed the chiefs and people of Kasoa and later interacted with the chiefs and people of Gomoa-Potsin, Adzentam, Panfokrom and Gomoa-Awomerew where he declared government intention to provide them with electricity as well as tarring of the Potsi-Awomerew-Agona Swedru link road. Other areas the Vice President expected to visit include, the U2 Salt Industries at Effutu-Nsuakyir, near Winneba.