Tolon (N/R), July 17, GNA - Mr Issa Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, has explained that visits by Ministers to districts to inspect projects funded by government is to ensure the proper use of national resources.

He said: "Accountability must start from the grassroots level". Mr Ketekewu said this when he paid a two-day official visit to the Tolon-Kumbungu District to inspect projects funded by the government and other donor agencies.

He noted that sending funds to the assemblies to undertake development projects is not enough but the government has a responsibility to ensure that such resources really benefited the communities and do not end up in individual's pockets.

The Minister inspected schools, KVIPs, roads, area council building and staff bungalow projects in the district.

He urged the people to take interest in the activities of the assembly and pay their taxes regularly to enable it to undertake more development projects to improve their living conditions.

Mr Ketekewu said the government had constructed 71 classroom blocks in the district alone since it assumed office two and half years ago. He announced that the Tolon township roads have been awarded on contract a cost of 2.9 billion cedis.

The Deputy Minister gave the assurance that boreholes would be constructed to provide potable water to reduce the incidence of guinea worm and other water-borne diseases.

The District Chief Executive, Mr Alhassan Baako, appealed to the government to rehabilitate roads in the district and construct new ones to open up the area to investors.

He called on the government and NGOs to provide communities in the area with hand-dug wells and boreholes to reduce water shortage in the dry season, which he said had compelled the inhabitants to travel long distances in search of water from unsafe sources.

Mr Baako announced that the District Assembly has acquired two tractors to assist farmers to plough their lands at affordable cost.

The Regent of Tolon, Major Abubakari Sulemana (rtd), said the District had benefited from development projects initiated by the government and called for the upgrading of the Tolon Clinic to a district hospital to take cater of the health needs of the increasing population in the area.

He commended military personnel for the high sense of professionalism they had displayed in keeping peace in Dagbon, saying, "If I have my own way I would award them with medals".