President ends three day visit to Brong Ahafo

Nsawkaw (B/A), Aug. 1, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills has directed the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to have all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies audited to know the extent of their indebtedness.

He stressed that the indebtedness, which was due to mismanagement of funds released for the provision of certain development projects had incapacitated the assemblies.

President Mills gave the direction at a durbar of chiefs, the people and heads of state institutions at Nsawkaw, capital of Tain district, who defied the rains, on the last day of the President's three-day tour of the Brong Ahafo Region. President Mills was given a tumultuous welcome to the district that decided the winner of the Presidential run-off in last December's general election. He later addressed a similar durbar in Techiman to end his tour of the region.

He thanked the people for the peace that had prevailed in the area and in the country during and after the elections and gave the assurance that the government would reciprocate by working hard enough to make Ghana a better place for all.

President Mills referred to the destruction by fire of the district office of the Electoral Commission in the area last year and promised that the matter would be investigated thoroughly to bring the culprits to book. "We cannot tolerate the culture of impunity as it will destroy our country because nobody is above the law", he stressed and urged all to gird up their loins as one people to move the country forward. He said his administration would accept constructive criticisms, suggestions and advice to guide it to successfully steer the affairs of the nation.

President Mills noted that, Tain district, as 'the kingmaker' in the last general election suddenly became popular and was widely known even in international circles and exhorted the chiefs and people to continue supporting the government in its efforts to meet their aspirations and expectations.

On the Bui Dam Project in the district, President Mills advised the chiefs and people to acknowledge that it would benefit all Ghanaians and therefore need their support and goodwill for its successful construction and management.

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) urged the police to conduct further investigations into the destruction of the district EC office. He promised amid wild cheers by the people that, a Senior High School would be commissioned in the area as part of this year's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Brong Ahafo region, whilst some major roads in the area would be upgraded. Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, Regional Minister, questioned the quality of materials being used for the construction of the Bui Dam and called for an enquiry to ensure that the best quality materials were used, since the project was for the benefit of all Ghanaians. Nana Kutu Ayim Baffour 11, Omanhene of Nsawkaw Traditional Area, earlier in a short address appealed to the government to upgrade the road network in the area, provide the people with water, accommodation for the police and the development of schools infrastructure.

In Techiman, President Mills urged Ghanaians to avoid the political polarization of the country to ensure its smooth and steady development and to have confidence in the NDC government to bring back on track the development agenda.

He tasked the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to investigate the huge indebtedness of the municipal and district assemblies, adding that, the government would not spare anybody whose acts would bring the name of the government into disrepute. The President announced that the Techiman-Kintampo highway would be developed into a dual carriageway and street lights provided in Kintampo whilst the Atebubu-Kwame Danso road in the Sene district would be given a face lift, starting in December this year.

Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw 1V, Omanhene of Techiman Traditional Area, earlier appealed for the completion of the Techiman Central Market project started by the first NDC government in 1990. He said the development of the market was the foresight of the late Nana Akumfi Ameyaw 111, and as a viable commercial market in the sub region it attracts traders from Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, La Cote D' Ivoire and Togo.

Oseadeeyo Akumfi also called for the completion of the police barracks project in Techiman to curb the increasing crime wave at the market. He commended the security agencies for their efforts in controlling crime and appealed for the completion of the court complex at Woase, also near Techiman.

The Omanhene called for assistance for the construction of an airstrip started by the traditional council at Twimia Koase, near Techiman, which had so far spent GHC30,000 on the project, as well as the upgrading of the 20 kilometre Tuobodom-Offuman road to help facilitate the carting of food produce locked up in the area. 1 Aug 09