J.H. Mensah leads Ministerial team to People's Assembly

Cape Coast, Jan. 12, GNA- The Senior Minister, Mr John Henry Mensah, on Monday stressed the need for all Ghanaians to stand against, and deplore any acts that would derail the nation's democratic process, as well as set her back in her socio-economic development. Ghanaians, should in this regard, oppose elements who wish to take over the reins of government, other than through the ballot box and cited the current chaos in one of the neighbouring countries as a result of such negative acts.

Mr Mensah made the call when he led a three-member ministerial team to the People's Assembly, at the Polytechnic grounds at Cape Coast. The theme for this year's Peoples Assemblies is "Good governance through Democracy".

Present at the first People's Assembly this year in the region was Nana Prah Agyensaim, a member of the Council of State. Mr Mensah, who was reacting to concerns by a questioner as to why the nation lagged behind other African countries in oil exploration, explained that oil exploration, was an expensive venture which needed huge investment.

He said this could however come about, if the nation was stable and expressed regret about the fact that the launch of the 1979 revolution, rendered the nation unstable for foreign investors. He said this had impeded the nation's ability to reap the desired benefits from her oil deposits, stressing that investors needed to have confidence in the stability of the country in order to do business in the country.

Mr Mensah said the nation had potential in developing her oil industry and mentioned Keta and Axim as two potential areas. He said to another question about the take off of the West African gas pipeline project that about 600 million dollars was needed for the project, which is jointly being undertaken by Ghana, Nigeria Togo and Benin and some private companies like Shell and Chevron of the United States.

He said the government, was eager for the take off of the project which is generally expected to help produce electricity at a cheaper cost for the people and for investors, over a 25-year period, and was slated for completion between 2005 and 2006.

On concerns about lack of employment avenues in the region, the Senior Minister, noted that the government was creating the necessary environment for investment and that it was the responsibility of the various regions to market their potentials in order to attract the needed investments.

On job placement for HND holders, he reiterated government's determination to make the private sector the engine of growth, and explained that the HND holders, should not merely vie for jobs in the public sector, but utilise their expertise in the private sector. He stressed that the HND, "was not a pass to the university", but meant to train the nation's technical manpower to acquire practical and technical skills needed for industries and other private sector concerns.

The Senior Minister mentioned that for instance, such expertise would be needed when 300,000 more hectares of oil palm are cultivated under the President Special Initiative (PSI), since the oil palm would be processed and its products exported.

On the Trades Union Congress (TUC) stance against the proposed two-and-a half percent of SSNIT deductions to fund the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr Mensah said the government "was open to negotiations through the democratic process", at all times. He also answered questions on the GetFund and assured Ghanaians that the government was not misapplying it and had no role to play in its disbursement.

Professor Dominic Fobih, Minister of Lands and Forestry and MP for Assin South, and the MP for Cape Coast, the Minister of State for Basic, Secondary and Girl-child education, Ms Christine Churcher also took turns to answer some questions, especially about job placement for HND holders.

Earlier in his address, the Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, enumerated several projects being undertaken to accelerate socio-economic development in the region.

The projects include rehabilitation of several kilometres of roads in some parts of the region, water expansion projects and announced that the government had "received assurances" from the Netherlands government to support the implementation of the Cape Coast water supply project. He also mentioned the PSI on cassava, oil palm and salt as some measures that government had taken to improve the socio-economic status of people in the region.

The Omanhene of the Oguaa Traditional Area, Nana Kwesi Atta II, his divisional chiefs and queen mothers of the traditional area, were among those who attended the function.