No Ministerial Positions for Manya/Yilo

The glaring display of disaffection for the NPP by the people of Yilo and Manya Krobo districts over what they describe as deliberately relegating them to the background in terms of development is getting deep.

Most of the Krobos, especially residents of Asesewa in the Upper Manya constituency, have been expressing their anger over the government's failure to construct good roads in the area and also for not considering any Krobo citizen for a ministerial position to push the development agenda of the area forward.

The Krobos expressed their anger at the people's assembly held in Odumase-Krobo and Somanya respectively over the week-end.

As if by design participants in these two districts, who took their turns to ask questions enquired from the Eastern Regional Minister, Mr. Yaw Barimah, to tell them what crime they had committed as a people to face such neglect by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

They did not understand why, for instance, Mr.Gustav Narh Dometey, their only son in government, was removed from office after the 2004 general elections as the deputy Eastern Regional Minister without any reason.

They felt that even though they had not been able to win the parliamentary seats for the NPP in past elections, they had done significantly well enough, and consider it a progress situation that not to warrant the sort of 'punishment' being meted out to them.

For instance the party's numbers in the Lower Manya Krobo Constituency has had grown steadily from 2,000 votes in 1992, 6,000 in 1996, through 9,000 in the year 2000, to a record 15,000 votes in 2004.

The people therefore felt that the dramatic growth was due to the confidence they had in the government and should have been patted on the back instead.

Another participant contended that the poor salaries earned by workers is the main cause of broken homes in the country.

With this, he tasked government to come out with a comprehensive salary structure to alleviate the plight of the people and avert the level of divorce cases in the area. The concerns raised drew a lot of laughter and applause from the participants.

Reacting the Regional minister advised them to do away with petty rivalries in their midst but rather unite and forge ahead for the development of the area, adding that with the support of the government the area would be brought to the limelight.

On the issue of poor salaries he pointed out that the government was aware that workers salaries had never been enough and assured that everything was being done to improve it.

However he charged all to work hard to increase productivity and to generate enough revenue for all to enjoy.