Sunyani, July 25, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour Awuah, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to leaders of opposition parties to join hands with the government to promote the development agenda of the country.

He made the appeal at a forum in Sunyani on Monday organised by the Regional Coordinating Council for regional executives of political parties to find ways of accelerating the region's pace of development. Mr Baffour Awuah said what Ghanaians expected from any government was development and there was no need for political parties to fight each other.

He urged them to lead exemplary lives for their supporters, particularly the youth, to follow and asked them not to allow their political affiliations to divide their ranks. "The government will need support and advice from the opposition parties as the nation is about to celebrate her 50th independence anniversary."

"This is not to win any political points for the government but to remember the country's past in the interest of the nation's progress," Mr Baffour Awuah said.

Mr Ernest Akubour Debrah, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, appealed to the leadership of political parties to desist from making utterances and pronouncements that could destroy the peace. "Some of the utterances made during the phone-in segment of radio stations can cause confusion and chaos in the country as some callers simply refuse to tell the public the truth and choose to make false allegations", he said.

The Minister appealed to radio stations not to allow people who have their own agenda to use their medium "to tear the nation apart." Some of the executives at the open forum appealed to the government to give equal opportunities to supporters of all parties, especially in the award of contracts.

He thanked the Regional Minister for the forum to enable them to lay bare their problems and promised to give him the respect and the support to administer the region efficiently and effectively.