Minister acknowledged chiefs role in dev't

Boso (E/R), Sept 25, GNA - Mr Yaw Barimah, the Eastern Regional Minister, has assured chiefs that the Kufuor Administration recognized their crucial role in the socio-economic development of the country. The government would, therefore, consult and co-operate with traditional authorities to ensure rapid development.
Mr Barimah said this at Boso in the Asuogyaman District on Friday, when he paid courtesy calls on the chiefs of the area as part of his tour of some traditional areas in the region.
He said traditional authorities had a stake in the government's resolve to cut down the rate of unemployment among the youth as a means of checking the rural-urban drift.
Mr Barimah told the chiefs that due to lapses in the education system sometime ago, the youth were left without skills, "hence the Skills Training and Employment Placement (STEP) programme which has so far been a success".
Mr Ntow Bediako, the Asuogyaman District Chief Executive, said response to the National Health Insurance Scheme in the area was not encouraging and appealed to the chiefs to educate the people to embrace the scheme.
He called on the traditional authorities to review the acquisition of traditional lands to encourage the youth, especially, to invest in the area and pledged the assembly's support.
On his part the paramount chief of the Boso Traditional Area, Nana Osei Nyarko told the Minister that conflicts which were hindering progress in the area had been solved and assured him of the Traditional Council's resolve to uphold the peace.