Adomanu (Ash), Aug. 23, GNA - The Deputy Minister of Energy, Mr K.T. Hammond, has said nothing will distract the government of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) from its commitment to democratic governance. "The government under the leadership of President J.A. Kufuor is focussed and would not be distracted from its democratic course of developing the country", he added.

Mr Hammond was addressing a well-attended durbar at Adomanu in the Adansi North District of Ashanti organised in his honour by the chiefs and the people.

The community conferred on him the honour of "Adomanu Nkosuohene" for the various contributions he had made towards the development of the entire Adansi State.

He said in deepening democracy, the government had developed a big heart to accommodate all sorts of comments from the opposition. Mr Hammond, who is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adansi-Asokwa, said through the exemplary leadership of President Kufuor, the country was highly respected by the international community. The Deputy Minister advised the people to embrace the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by registering to access good medical care.

Mr Hammond pledged to support the community to rehabilitate its dilapidated community centre with an initial promise of 200 bags of cement and five packets of roofing sheets.

The newly confirmed District Chief Executive for Adansi North, Mr Kwabena Ameyaw, called for support from the chiefs and people so as to accelerate the development of the new District.

Nana Asirifi Asare II, the Adomanuhene, appealed to the Deputy Minister for the extension of electricity to parts of Adomanu, Abaamu and Nhyieso and the additional supply of meters.

He expressed concern about the manner in which some disgruntled persons used the FM stations to discredit the President and other government officials and urged Parliament to determine how best the operations of FM stations could be regulated.