Kyeremase (ER) March 18. GNA-- Mr. Frank Kwame Busumtwi the Birim South District Chief Executive (DCE) has embarked on a familiarization tour in the communities to sensitise the people on government polices and programmes and also to afford him the opportunity to know their problems. He has so far visited Kyeremase, Adukrom, Oboyambo, Otaipro, Takorase, Asibirim, Eshiem and Bantama. Addresing the communities at separate functions, Mr. Busumtwi urged the people not to allow their political affiliations to divide them but rather, they must unite towards the speedy development of their areas. He advised them to register for the District's Mutual Health Insurance Scheme to enable them to have access to free quality health care when they fall sick. Mr. Busumtwi urged the people to embrace fully government's policies and programmes, adding that though some of the polices may seem harsh at the moment they were necessary to ensure a better future for the country.

Reacting to concerns from the communities that they were denied poverty alleviation funds to expand their farms and business, the DCE explained that out of about 1,200 people who benefited from such facility only 20 of them had so far paid back. He said the assembly had decided that future poverty alleviation funds would be disbursed to only co-operatives and advised the people to form co-operatives to be able to benefit from the facility. Mr. Rockson Ofori, Akim Oda Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) told the people that the voters register would be open soon and called on those who have attained 18 years of age and those who could not register previously to do so when the time was due He also reminded them that district assembly elections would be held by June and urged those who would be interested to contest to start organizing themselves. In all the communities visited, most of them appealed for rehabilitation of their schools, roads, provision of school furniture and electricity supply among others.