Apam (C/R), Nov 17, GNA - The Paramount Chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Obrifo Ahunako Ahor Ankobea, has commended the governme= nt for prudent management of the economy.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Apam, the Paramount Chief said the announcement by the Government Statistician last week that the Gross Domestic Production (GDP) had gone up from GH¢18.7 billion to GH¢44.8=

billion moving the country to the middle income bracket of world economy was indeed a welcome news.

He said the news must gladden the hearts of every citizen irrespecti= ve of their political affiliation. Obrifo Ahor Ankobea cautioned Ghanaians against seeing the new statu= s as having "crossed the river" and therefore could make unreasonable deman= ds on the government.

This, he said, should rather motivate them to work harder to increas= e the GDP to confirm the nation's accolade as the Star of Africa. He also cautioned the government and its functionaries against complacency, urging them to remain focussed, to be able to implement the government's "Better Ghana Agenda".

The Paramount Chief appealed to the government to initiate programme= s to make the successes achieved in the economic sector to reflect in the living conditions of the people. "The drop in inflation to a single digit and the increase in the GDP=

are all economic parlance which have no meaning to the ordinary Ghanaian,= " he stressed and added that "what the people will appreciate is to see pri= ces of items going down to meet their pockets."

He also appealed to the government to ensure that prices of commodities, especially food items, were reduced to reflect the successes=

chalked in the economic field. 17 Nov 10