Akim Oda (E/R), Dec. 15, GNA - The Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Yaw Osafo-Marfo has said that the government will always ensure value for money in all development projects on contract. He said only those who did quality and genuine work would be paid, adding that the days of "free money" were gone forever.

Mr. Osafo-Marfo who is also the Member of Parliament for Akim Oda, was speaking at the 12th Eastern Regional NPP rally held at Akim Oda on Sunday.

He told the teeming supporters that the government's development programme was on course and that the stabilization of the cedi was one of the positive achievement of the government, which had helped to bring down the prices of goods and services.

The Finance Minister assured cocoa farmers that the government would continue to pursue policies, which would revamp the cocoa industry to help reduce poverty among farmers.

To this end, the producer prices of cocoa would be increased periodically, mass cocoa spraying exercises stepped up, while farming inputs would be supplied to cocoa farmers to enable them to boost production.

The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Mr. Felix Owusu-Agyepong said the sound agriculture policies being embarked upon by the government had brought abundant foodstuffs on the Ghanaian market. On the National Health Insurance Scheme, he said it had come to replace the cash and carry system and appealed that the scheme should not be politicised.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah advised party supporters to register in their numbers when the voters' register was reopened next year.

The Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Gustav Narh-Dometey reassured settler farmers that the government had no intension to expel them from their lands.

A government's spokesperson, Nana Ohene Ntow said the government's decision to absolve part of Senior Secondary School fees was aimed at reducing the heavy burden on parents and urged all to send their children to school.