Kan Dapaah commends Rawlings

...for electrification policies

Kwabeng (ER), April 12, GNA- The Minister of Communications, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, says Ex-President J.J. Rawlings deserves commendation for the efforts he made towards extending electricity from the national grid to many rural communities as well as the installation of the Aboadze Thermal Plant.

Speaking at Peoples' Assemblies separately held at Kwabeng and Kyebi in the Atiwa and East Akim Districts respectively in the Eastern Region, he pointed out that, despite the shortcomings of the NDC administration in other sectors, one could not, however, assail the commitment of the ex-President's administration towards energy development in the country.

Mr Kan Dapaah appealed to Ghanaians to support the current fixture of petroleum prices by an independent body since the policy often adopted during the Rawlings regime such as subsidizing electricity, sometimes to the tune of 400 million dollars, further worsened the financial viability of the nation.

The Minister said the high interest rate of 52 per cent had been brought down to a tolerable level.

Mr Dapaah said with this achievements in mind, the Kufour administration was poised more than ever to deliver solid performance to the people of Ghana to engender economic growth and to bring about prosperity.

Illustrating his theme, he said the resuscitation of the Volta Aluminiun Company(VALCO), the effort being made to harvest the nation's precious metals and minerals and having them processed locally, would further embolden Ghana's economy.

Some contributors at both functions hailed Mr Dapaah's delivery for recognising some of the feats chalked by the NDC while at the same time, nudging the former government for its inability to properly manage the economy.

A contributor at the Kyebi forum, who claimed to be an NDC adherent, advocated that other NPP members take a cue from Mr Dapaah's performance, arguing that much of the political tension in the country could be reduced if all politicians learnt to accord their opponents some recognition of achievement during their tenure.