Somanya (E/R), Oct. 20, GNA - The Government is to announce new cocoa price within the next few weeks in fulfilment of its promise to pay better prices for the produce.

The Government Spokesman on Finance, Nana Ohene Ntow said this at the Eastern Regional Rally of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) organised at Somanya on Sunday.

He said the Government had got all the financial resources to pay off contracts that it had awarded and would ensure that all those contracts were completed before its first term in office. The National Women's Organiser of the NPP, Ms Talata Asobayeri called on the supporters of the party to register when the voters' registration began.

She accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of spreading false propaganda in the Zongo communities that when the voters' registration opened only the sympathisers of the NDC were expected to register since those of NPP already had their names with the Government and they needed not to register.

Mr Yaw Barimah, the Minister of Employment and Manpower Development, called on the unemployed youth in the Yilo Krobo District to register with the District Assembly to enable them to benefit from the Government's Youth Employable Skill Training Programme.

He said under that programme the people would also be trained in entrepreneurial skills and the Government was talking to some financial institutions to offer those who would complete the training with some loan to be able to start their businesses.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Gustov Narh Dometey, said the Government had proved wrong those, who spread the false propaganda that when the NPP came to power the lands of Krobos in Akan speaking areas of the country would be taken away from them.

He, therefore, called on the Krobos to vote massively for the NPP during the 2004 elections.

Mr Kwadwo Yeboah Fordjour, Brong Ahafo Regional Chairman of the NPP, said all members of the NPP were people of substance, who had their private businesses; financial resources and so entered politics not to amass wealth but to serve the country.

Sub-Lt Christian Tetteh (rtd), Yilo-Krobo District Chief Executive and the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Yilo Krobo Constituency, said at the time he assumed office the NDC Government left a debt of 700 million cedis being outstanding arrears for contracts it awarded.

He said the Assembly was realising 2.4 million cedis in six months but due to the changes that he introduced the Yilo Krobo District Assembly collected 60 million cedis revenue within six months. Sub-Lt Tetteh said due to the high revenue mobilisation of the Assembly it now enjoyed a Common Fund of 6.8 billion cedis as against the 1.2 billion cedis being enjoyed by the Assembly annually under the NDC government.

He said contracts had been awarded for the tarring of Sikabeng-Tsotsonya-Obawale road and the Huhunya-Klo and Agogo-Aheamankyenne road. 20 Oct. 2003