NDC is in power to build, not to destroy-Mills

Accra, Oct. 14, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Thursday asked Ghanaians to keep faith with the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and retain it in power to continue to build on what it has achieved.

He reiterated that the NDC is in power to build and never to destroy.

President Mills said the party would use the national resources to improve the living standards of the people and to ensure a Better Ghana.

President Mills was speaking at the end of a three-day tour of the Greater Accra Region, during which he inaugurated and inspected a number of development projects.

He asked Ghanaians to appreciate the achievements of Government, within the past two years and make an informed choice by voting the NDC when they go to the polls next year.

During the three days tour a milling crowd gave the President a rousing welcome with a fanfare of drumming and dancing and tooting of horns.

Some of them indicated their support for President to win the 2012 polls and lead the nation for a second four-year term.

President Mills inaugurated an ultra modern storey building complex, for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), at Ridge in Accra, and called on the management and staff of the Authority to handle the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to meet the health needs of the people.

He stressed good quality medical care delivery as one of the ideals of the Government, and noted that NHIS was one of the vehicles that would deliver good quality health to the people.

President Mills said there was the need for prudent management of the scheme and that reported cases of corruption that had characterised the scheme must be a thing of the past.

The NHIA building was dedicated by the Most Reverend Charles Agyin-Asare, Presiding Bishop of the Word Miracle Bible Church.

Mr Sylvester Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the Authority, said from its humble beginnings, the Authority had been housed in one office in the Ministry of Health, a dilapidated structure, a rented premise and finally to the present location.

He said NHIS accounts for more 80 per cent of the internally generated funds in public health facilities.

He said there has been an increase in members; and added that the Authority instituted Clinical Audit last year to control wrong practices such as irrational application of tariffs, prescription of drugs and inflation of quantities of medicine supplied.

President Mills inspected progress of work on the Achimota-Ofankor Road, estimated to cost $128 million.

Work is more than 83 per cent complete and is expected to be fully completed in the next seven months.

President Mills apologised for the inconvenience caused motorists and residents in the area during the course of the construction work.

As he continued his tour President Mills got off from the convoy and cheerfully responded to the waves of school children who lined the streets.

At Adjen Kotoku in the Ga West Municipal Assembly, President Mills inaugurated a modern compost recycling plant, estimated at a cost of $25 million with the capability of accepting 900 tons of waste.

The plant would offer about 1000 jobs which would run on a three-shift basis.

President Mills decried the filth situation in Accra, and called for the marshalling of efforts to make Accra one of the cleanest cities in the world.

President Mills also visited the Adjen Kotoku Redevelopment Site, under which a modern city is to be build to resettle the people displaced as result of the development of the Korle Lagoon Ecological Project.

The main components of the Redevelopment of the Adjen Kotoku Project, which is costing 82 million Euros, are the provision of bulk breaking materials, roads, water supply, sewerage treatment, and storm water drainage.

It also includes the provision of bulk social service infrastructure like terminals, educational, recreational and health facilities such as police and fire service stations and a community centre.

“All these facilities have completed, except the water supply system, which is about 80 per cent complete,” Mr Alban Sumana Bagbin, Minister of Works and Housing and Water Resources said.

President Mills said Government was in power to transform society and through the project a modern city would be created.

He cited Adjen Kotoku as one of the modern cities to be built around the country.

President Mills expressed concern that some communities had not been planned, but evolved, giving room to disasters.

He called for efforts to make Ghana disaster ready and the need to put a halt to practices such as the cutting of trees along river banks, illegal mining called “Galamsey” and building in waterways.

At Ashaladja, in the Ga South Districts President Mills inspected the Amasaman- Ayikai Doblo- Kasoa Road, of which about 140 kilometres of feeder roads had been done, with another component of 8.7 of urban roads to be executed.

Some communities that would benefit from the project are Amasaman, Domeabra, and Denkyira.

The contractor on the project expected to be completed in two years is Ussuya Ghana Limited.

President Mill recalled an electoral promise made to Nii Akwanor II, Chief of Ashaladja and the people to develop the roads and improve public transportation and farm produce and to reduce travelling time.

He urged the people to support Government by avoiding squabbles with the contractor so that the work would be completed on schedule.

The next stop of the President was at the Mallam Junction, where he inspected the Millennium Development Authority Interchange Project.

President Mills was taken round by Mr Martin Eson-Benjamin, Chief Executive of the Authority.

A large number of people from diverse backgrounds thronged the site to catch a glimpse of the President.

Some went on the overhead bridge, others climbed the scaffolds and mounted the huge caterpillars and tipper trucks at the site just to see the President.

School children wave flags to welcome the President who assured the people that the ruling NDC would improve their living standards.

“So, continue to be with us,” President Mills implored.

Mr Eson- Benjamin said the project would be finished by next January and handed over to the Government in February.

President Mills later inspected the Sakaman Storm Drainage Project and reconstructed road projects in the Dansoman Township –Mpoasei communities.

Works on the road projects in the Dansoman Township and Mpaosei , delayed for the construction of storm drainage.

The roads works are under various stages of completion.

The President also inspected the progress of work on the three storey-building project, which has about 24 rooms at the Mamprobi Girls School, and another storey block at the Mamprobi Salvation Army School at under Millennium City Projects.

President Mills advised the pupils to take their studies seriously since the nation would rely on them as the future leaders.