Bolgatanga Oct. 13, GNA - The Maiden Town Hall Meeting in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region, afforded residents the opportunity to ask questions they would not have had the opportunity to question the authorities about. The questioners, who cut across the gender and political divide, queried the political leaders at the function on issues bothering on politics, social and economics.

Ms. Juliet Ayamba, a student nurse at the Bolgatanga Nurses Training College drew the attention of the Municipal Assembly to the disposal of faecal waste at Sirigu, a suburb of Bolgatanga, which she said posed public health danger.

Another questioner, Mr. Francis Adingo proposed the relocation of the Bolgatanga General Cemetery, because estate developers had encroached on the land, which could cause health related threats to residents in the area. Responding to these questions Mr. Epsona Harry Ayamga, Municipal Chief Executive, said the assembly was taking measures to address the concerns. Mr. John Akaribo, former assembly member for Nyariga-Doone wanted to know whether health workers and employees of the National Health Insurance Scheme, could be held accountable to the public and if yes! The specific areas they could be they called to account for their stewardship? He said some personnel in the health sector took people who patronised their services for granted.

Mr. Akaribo therefore called for a system to be put in place to check the activities of public health service providers and make it possible for speedy redress of client- related complaints.

He asked government to live by its electoral promise to empower the youth by introducing agricultural programmes to offer them employment. The former assembly member, wanted to know how many of such programmes had been introduced by government so far and the number of the youth benefiting from it?

In an answer to a question about the high cost of cement, the Regional Minister Mr. Mark Woyongo explained that measures were underway to kick start the production of cement at Buipe in the Northern Region. He however said authorities in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions were in dialogue with GHACEM (Ghana Cement Factory) to see how best they could make the price of cement affordable to the people.

One Mr. Philip Azumah complained about the high fees being paid at the health related training institutions in the region, and asked government to reverse the situation since poverty was rife in the area. He said government could work out some models to make fees for these schools affordable to cater for the manpower needs of the region. Another contributor, Mr. Noble Asakeya Alagskomah called for special attention for the educational sector and added his voice to the call by Mr Ayamga for a stakeholders meeting to deliberate on the pursuit of education in the municipality.

He said government should design a special incentive package for teachers to facilitate teaching and learning.

Mr. John Aporo wanted to know why the present government was dismissing some workers especially personnel at the School Feeding Programme, and referred to the President's campaign promise of being the "father of all". Reacting to the question, the Presidential Spokesperson, Mr. Mahama Ayariga said he could not comment on it because the matter was before the President who was yet to make official comment on the issue. 13 Oct. 09