President ask Ghanaians to tolerate opposing views

Sekondi, May 17, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, on Tuesday called on Ghanaians to tolerate opposing views for the sake of unity and development of the country.

He said: "We must agree on issues and respect each other's views for our dear nation to move forward".

The President made the call at a durbar of chiefs and people at the start of his three-day official visit to the Western Region, at Sekondi. Reacting to the demand by chiefs in the Region for 10 per cent share of Ghana's oil revenue, the President said the Region merits more 10 per cent of the oil revenue because of its immense contribution to the economy by way of resources.

He said although the Government has not agreed in principle to the request of the chiefs, at the end of the day, the Region would receive more than it expected.

President Mills assured the people that his Government would fulfill its electoral promises.

Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Western Regional Minister, said some 170 school projects at a total cost of 37,857,762.10 Ghana Cedis have either been completed or at advanced stage.

He said contracts have been awarded for 36 six units and 23 three-unit classroom blocks for Primary and Junior High Schools while work on emergency and infrastructure projects in 25 Senior High Schools have commenced.

Mr. Aidoo said a total of 127,118 free school uniforms and 32,845 pre-cuts school materials have being distributed to schools in the Region.

He said so far, 7,089 youth have been employed in the National Youth Employment Programme and all the 17 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in the Region were benefiting from the programme.

Mr. Aidoo said the Ghana Water Company Limited, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese firm for the expansion of the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply System.

He said the water project, which is estimated to cost 280 million dollars, is expected to expand the capacity of the treatment plant at the Daboase Head Works.

In an address read for him, Osagyefo Dr. Kwamena Enimil VI, Acting President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, expressed concern about the alleged insulting language against chiefs and the people of the Region by Mr. Twumasi Appiah, Member of Parliament (MP) for Sene, when a delegation of chiefs from the Region went to Parliament to press home their demand for 10 per cent share of oil revenue.

Osagyefo Enimil said: "What Nananom and the good people of Western Region were demanding and would persistently demand is sustained development fund cash flow to be paid into the Western Corridor Accelerated Development Authority to fast track Western Region's development agenda".

He said the Region deserve her share of the national cake in accordance with the Directive Principles of State Policy, enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

Osagyefo Enimil asked the President to ensure that the MP for Sene rendered an unqualified apology to the Western Regional House of Chiefs.