Maame Krobo (E/R), Dec. 18, GNA - The Vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, has urged the chiefs and people of the Afram Plains District to give the needed support and co-operation to local government structures to enhance development in their communities.

He said the government had initiated a number of development projects to ensure the welfare and development of the remote areas to bridge up the developmental gap between the Afram Plains and the rest of the country.

Alhaji Mahama was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people at Maame Krobo as part of his two-day visit to the Afram Plains District. He expressed concerned about the developmental neglect of the area for the part 20 years and urged the people to support the government to provide them with essential needs like clothes, health facilities, educational infrastructure and boreholes to improve their standard of living.

The Vice President explained that the government opted for the HIPC Initiative to raise funds to finance development projects since it inherited empty coffers when it took over from the previous government. He said the government was to receive 20 million Euros from the European Union to undertake road construction in seven districts in the Eastern Region including the Afram Plains District next year.

The Minister of Health, Dr Kwaku Afriyie urged the people to support the National Health Insurance Scheme to cater for their health needs.

He also advised them to avoid indiscriminate sex and stick to their partners to avoid contracting the HIV/AIDS disease. The Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko said the government would involve all Ghanaians, irrespective of their political affiliations, to develop the country and advised them to avoid voting on ethnic lines but support the party that would have the nation's development at heart.

The Chief of Pitiku, Nana Danso Ababio, II, appealed for the extension of electricity from Kwamepong Nkwanta to Maame Krobo and the upgrading of the Kwamepong Nkwanta-Maame Krobo-Agogo road to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs to the marketing centres. He also appealed for the supply of tractors and financial assistance to farmers to undertake mechanised farmers in the area to increase food production.

The Vice President later inaugurated a 780-million-cedi market shed at the Maame Krobo market and a 200-million-cedi block of three-classrooms for the Anglican JSS at Akye Amanfrom. He also addressed durbars at Tease, Amankwaakrom and Donkorkrom.