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General News of Friday, 22 August 2003

Source: GNA

President Kufuor appeals to workers to exercise restraint

Tepa (Ash), Aug 22, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday appealed to workers and other contributors to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to exercise restraint in their protests and misgivings about the use of 2.5 percent of SSNIT contributions to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

President Kufuor said workers must bear with government to provide better health care for Ghanaians.

He said in the past, cocoa farmers have to shoulder the health, education and other sectors of the economy with their toil but they have not complained.

"It would, therefore, be ideal for the SSNIT contributors to contribute their quota to the health needs of the people", he said. President Kufuor was addressing separate durbars of chiefs and people of Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North and Mankranso in the Ahafo-Ano South Districts as part of his official tour of the Ashanti region. He called for unity among the people for speedy socio-economic development of the area.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, said 150 kilometres of roads in the Ahafo-Ano North district are being reshaped and others rehabilitated.

He said in addition, 33 boreholes have been constructed and 27 more will be constructed soon.

Nana Adusei Atwenewa Ampem, Paramount Chief of Tepa Traditional Area, commended government for the peace prevailing in the country and appealed for a food-processing factory in the area.

He also appealed to government for improvement in the telecommunication facilities in the district.

Nana Obiri Agyei Mankran, Chief of Mankranso, called for more facilities at Ahafo-Ano South Secondary/Technical, health equipment for Mankranso Hospital and extension of electricity to other parts of the district.