Kpando(V/R), Jan. 24, GNA - Togbe Noagbesenu II, Fiaga of Awate Traditional Area has appealed to the Government to improve public sector wages this year to serve "as the icing-on-the-cake of its landmark achievements in the management of the economy in the past six years".

He said there was no doubt that Government had a firm grip on the economy and had the ability to fashion out the right prescriptions to solve intractable problems except public sector wages which had remained a grey area.

Togbe Noagbesenu made the call when contributing to the Jubilee People's Assembly at Kpando on Tuesday.

Some of the concerns raised by the public included provision of potable water from the Volta Lake at Tokor as a permanent solution to the perennial water supply problem experienced in Kpando and its environs.

Establishment of Metro Mass Transport (MMT) services in Kpando, effective and efficient operations of the Kpando market and development of other markets in the district.

He commended the Government for the appointment of a Minister of State for Culture and Chieftaincy as a demonstration of its recognition of their importance and Chieftaincy as vital partner of governance and development. Togbe Noagbesenu, however, drew attention to the weaknesses in the lower structures of the Local Government System such as the Area Councils mainly due to lack of funds to boost their operations and attract the right calibre of staff to run them. He suggested that the People's Assembly sessions, should be organized every six months instead of yearly to facilitate a more frequent interaction between the Government and the citizenry. Mr Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister assured the people of Government's goodwill towards the region with the provision of more development projects.

He called on the youth in the region to take advantage of programmes under the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) to make them productive to society.

Mr Pius Kwame Adanuti, Kpando District Chief Executive said the assembly was gearing itself up to make the best out of its participation in the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA). He said the assembly would focus on large-scale cultivation of mangoes, sunflower, soybeans, pineapples, jatropha and moringa for export and domestic market. Mr Collins Boateng, Chief Executive of Ghana Export Promotion Council, assured farmers who ventured into sunflower production of an investor in the country interested in large scale production to produce bio-diesel and poultry feed. He advised farmers in the district to take advantage of the Government's focus on non-traditional exports to improve their living standards. 24 Jan. 07