Government has rubbished claims by the Young Patriot, a group with allegiance to the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the Mills administration has deliberately abandoned projects in the Eastern Region.

The group believes the situation has arisen because the flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo Addo, hails from the region.

A statement released on Tuesday and signed by leading members of the group said “It is apparent with government Deputy Ministers such as Okudzeto Ablakwa and Barton Oduro becoming financial engineers, debt collectors and Public Relations Officers for AAL, ISOFOTON among others, that government is determined to connive with individuals and organizations to defraud the state of Ghana to the detriment of development projects in the country.”

The group says sources within government have revealed to the Young Patriots that the Suhum-Nsawam roads have been abandoned because of the NPP flagbearer.

They describe President Mills as vindictive and wicked for refusing the region its rightful development projects and that the group will embark on a demonstration on August 6 to register its displeasure at the current underdevelopment of the region.

Chairman of the group, Richard Nyamah, told XYZ News some ministers and DCEs in the region are also unhappy with the government’s deliberate policy to stifle the progress of the Eastern Region.

Flawed basis

But government has rejected the claims. Deputy Information Minister James Agyenim Boateng told XYZ NEWS over thousand projects have been completed since the Mills administration assumed office.

“The basis that they cite is totally flawed. [Richard Nyamah] was unable to point to the specifics.”

He said as far back as March 2011 “there have been a total of one thousand and thirty nine development projects in the Eastern Region.”

Mr. Agyenim Boateng said the argument of the Young Patriots is not tenable because there are visible projects within the region that were undertaken by the current administration.**