Debrah calls for tolerance among Ghanaians

Damongo (N/R), Jan 22, GNA - The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Ernest Debrah, on Wednesday urged Ghanaians to tolerate each other's views and avoid creating situations that could generate conflicts, especially in this election year.

Mr Debrah, who was addressing a People's Assembly at Damongo in the West Gonja District, said the world would be watching the outcome of the general election.

"The success or failure of the polls will determine the survival or otherwise of the country's fragile democracy."

He told the forum that the goal of every political party in the country was to improve the living conditions of the citizens and therefore, urged the electorate to elect the party that has the best options for the development aspirations of the people.

The Minister, who led a three-member government delegation, including Mr Ben Bukari Salifu, Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reform at the Senior Minister's Office and Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development took turns to explain government policies and programmes.

Mr. Debrah said it had been the policy of the NPP to liberate the energies of the people for the growth of a property owning democracy with the right to life, freedom and justice.

He said the government is operating on the principles of enriching life, property and liberty of each and every citizen and urged the people to be patient to enable the government to deliver.

"The government is trying to free the economy of all constraints towards building prosperity for all by tackling fiscal and monetary policy to bring down inflation, introduce small business assistance programmes and close partnership with the private sector."

The government had also instituted a policy to promote exports, the economy and social infrastructure such as education and health as well as agriculture and job creation.

Mr Ketekewu said the sector Ministry was talking with the government to increase the District Assemblies' Common Fund from five per cent to 7.5 per cent this year to enable the assemblies to meet the development needs of the people, especially in the area of poverty alleviation.

Answering a question on the inability of the government to create new districts in the region, Mr Ketekewu explained that because of the conflict situation in the area, the government found it appropriate to leave out the region for a while until such a time that the environment was conducive.

He said five out of the eight districts that presented their applications for the creation of new districts had been considered. He did not however mention the districts whose applications had been considered.

During an open forum, questions on the Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla road, poor general road network in the district, low students sponsorship package by the assembly, Members of Parliament's share of the Common Fund and the restoration of the "Cap 30" pension to workers, were some of the concerns raised by the people.

Most of the people who took turns to ask questions expressed their dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work on the Fufulso-Damongo portion of the road and expressed doubts about the competence of the contractor.