Agona Swedru, Dec 15, GNA - Mr. Ekow Duodu, Agona West Constituency Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has stated that the people of the Central Region voted on issues and not on tribal lines or personalities in the elections last week.

He said the election results from the region did not have to be a shock because the electorate voted for development.

Speaking at a victory rally, he noted that the people voted to show appreciation for government's prudent economic management, which enabled them to benefit from a number of projects promised during the 2000 campaign.

He stressed that every village or town in the Central Region had its fair share of the national cake including educational and health infrastructure, potable water, roads and poverty reduction initiatives. Mr Duodu criticised the accusations against the people of the region for not voting massively for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Presidential Candidate, Professor John Evans Atta Mills who hails from the region.

He pointed out that if any political party fulfilled its promises the electorate would give it their mandate but not for ethnic reasons. Mr Duodu appealed to the government to establish at least two big factories in the region to absorb the unemployed youth.

Mr. Samuel Doku Obodai, MP-elect for the area, expressed appreciation to the people for giving President Kufuor and the NPP their mandate to rule the nation for another four-year term and gave the assurance that the party would never forget them in terms of development projects to improve their living standard.

Mr. Obodai asked the party supporters to exercise restrain in the face of accusations and insults of the opposition parties to ensure peace and stability.

The MP elect said now that the elections were over there was the need for the government to plan strategise to ensure the realisation of the goals of "Positive change chapter two". 15 Dec 04