Govt's next-term will advance socio-economic status - Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghanaians should give him another term for his administration to implement a livelihood and income generating development programme to improve the socio-economic well-being of Ghanaians from 2017 to 2020.

The President explained that: "No nation in the world could witness an accelerated development in the life of its populace without a conscious improvement in its socio-economic infrastructural base."

The President was addressing an enthusiastic gathering at Nsein in the Evaloe-Gwira Constituency as part of his three-day, "Accounting to the People," tour of the Western Region.

He is being accompanied by the Minister of Petroleum, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Madam Sherry Ayittey and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo and his Deputy, Mr.Alfred Ekow Gyan, the CEO of Ghana Gas, Dr.George Sipa Yankey and Mr. Lee Ocran, a Former of Minster of Education are also on his entourage.

President Mahama told the people that his working tour formed part of his mission to account for his stewardship to Ghanaians as their President and the leader of the National Democratic Congress in the past three and half years.

He said the construction of an 800-kilometre road in cocoa growing areas in the Western Region had begun in earnest to ensure that farmers had easier access to transport their farm produce to nearby purchasing stations.

The President said a12-unit quarters would be built for the Police Service in the Nzema-East Municipality and directed the Ministry of Roads and Highways to expedite action on the 10-kilometre Axim Junction to Axim Road; and the Axim Town roads.

The Omanhene of the Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Agyefi Kwame, expressed his gratitude to President Mahama for being the second President to visit the town, since Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s visit in 1960.

He thanked the President for appointing a number of Nzemas to serve in his Government saying, "We have had our share of the national cake."

He commended the President for the completion of the Western corridor international road from Agona-Nkwanta to Elubo and also praised the Nzema's who were in Government for their efforts, especially Mr. Buah, who he said, had demonstrated prudent leadership to the entire Nzema land.

The Omanhene said Mr. Buah, who was installed the Nkosuohene (Development Chief) five years ago, had promoted notable development projects, including an ultra-modern water closet toilet facility, which was inaugurated after the programme.

The chief appealed to the President to ensure the asphalting of the one-and-half kilometre road from the Nsein Junction to his palace and urged the Feeder Roads Department to put all feeder roads in the area and its environs in good shape.

Later at Axim, President Mahama asked all fisher folks who needed outboard motors to register with the Chief Fisherman for consideration.

He said the Government had already distributed one 1,000 outboard motors and fishing nets to some of their compatriots and assured them of the supply of more pre-mix fuel to boost fishing expeditions.

On aquaculture, he said, the Government would invest towards the production of 400,000 tonnes of fish in ponds to ensure food security and sufficiency.

Mr. Kojo Poku, the Chief Fisherman of Axim- alize, thanked the President for the provision of landing beaches but appealed to him to help reduce the price of outboard motors.