NPP would strengthen Local Gov't

Kumasi, Aug. 8, GNA - The next New Patriotic Party (NPP) Government would strengthen the capacity of local government structures and the chieftaincy institution to become vibrant agents for effective rural development.

Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, a Leading Member of Election 2008 Campaign Team of NPP, who made the pledge said this was based on the Party's belief that a government close to the people could serve them best. He was speaking at a Rural Development Forum dubbed "My Party's Vision on Rural Development" organized by Bureau of Integrated Rural Development (BIRD) of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi on Thursday.

The forum was to enable political parties outline their vision and plans for the nation that would afford the citizenry an opportunity to make informed decision in Election 2008. Dr Apraku said NPP was committed to the provision of a more responsible local government capable of delivering quality services to their localities and became accountable to the people. On tourism, he said the Party would invest in infrastructure around tourist sites, quality hotels and provide skilled labour in the tourism industry.

Dr Apraku, who is also Member of Parliament for Offinso North said the Party would maximize value of the nation's tourist sites, especially tourists attractions such as festivals, games and parks and eco-tourism in rural areas.

He said the next NPP Government would ensure food security and value addition to agricultural products by establishing agro-based industries through Rural Enterprises Initiative in every metropolitan, municipal or district, as well as linkages between agricultural products and industry.

Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Member of Parliament for Asawase and a Leading Member of National Democratic Congress (NDC), said the next NDC Government would improve education, health, agriculture and other sectors especially for rural dwellers.

He said the measures were to make rural areas more attractive to the youth to bridge the gap between urban and rural development. Alhaji Mubarak said it was unfortunate that in spite of about 60 per cent of Ghana's population living in rural areas, there had not been any consistent programme to improve on their living standards that had resulted in a high rate of rural-urban drift especially among the youth. He said the next NDC Government would inject adequate funds towards building more roads, railway lines, classroom blocks, hospitals, clinics and provide modern technology to address post-harvest losses to ensure food sufficiency to feed the people. 08 Aug. 08