General News of Friday, 7 May 2010

Source: GNA

Minister cautions public servants against sabotaging government policies

Kwame Danso (BAR), May 7, GNA - Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural

Development has cautioned workers in the public service not to sabotage the "better Ghana agenda" of government. Mr Afriyie Ankrah gave the caution when he addressed a cross-section of workers including personnel of the Sene

District Assembly at Kwame Danso, the district capital, on Wednesday to kick-start a -week long familiarisation tour of

six selected districts in the Brong Ahafo Region. He said public and civil servants were crucial for the success of any government and urged them to be up and doing

to ensure that the changes being effected by the government reflect in the conditions of the ordinary people. He said even though challenges still abound, enough progress had been made within the last few months that the

National Democratic Congress (NDC) assumed power. The Minister said the massive infrastructural developments going on all over the country are indications that the

better Ghana agenda is on course. He said although the NDC inherited huge debts and high inflation rate, government has stabilised the economy,

increased the Capitation Grant to 50 per cent and providing free school uniforms and exercise books for basic schools. Mr Afriyie Ankrah, told the gathering that government's priority is not to jump into prosecuting corrupt former

government officials although the law would be allowed to take its course. He said government believed that modern agricultural practice was the key to propelling the country onto the middle

income status and urged the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies with vast unploughed lands to network

with green organisations to tap the potentials of the natural resource. Mr Afriyie Ankrah said through the on-going constitutional review exercise, government aimed at effecting

significant changes to the local government structure to ensure that local authorities assumed full autonomous status. The Minister later toured Atebubu-Amantin District and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Atebubu Traditional

Area, Nana Owusu Achiaw Berempong II.