Elect competent parliamentarians - President tells electorate

Twifo-Praso (C/R), Dec. 4, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday asked the electorate to elect competent parliamentarians, who could articulate their socio-economic problems in Parliament and to the Government for redress to improve their standard of living.

He said they should ensure that, the Parliamentarians were conversant with issues in their areas, and also had good rapport with the Government on regular basis to discuss issues affecting their welfare.

"When the President and the parliamentary candidates can coordinate well for the socio-economic development of your area, then you have chosen the best government of your choice, on December 7," he declared.

President Kufuor made the call when he addressed a durbar of chiefs and people of the Twifo-Hemang-Lower Denkyira District as part of a day's official visit to the Central Region, at Twifo-Praso.

President Kufuor said the management of the Ghana Cocoa Board would be directed to investigate the non-payment of compensation to some farmers, whose cocoa farms were destroyed by the Twifo Oil Palm Plantation (TOPP) Project.

He told the people that a representative from the area would be included on the board of directors of TOPP after it had been re constituted, while efforts would be made to pay some royalties from the revenue accruing from the Kakum National Park to the District Assembly.

President Kufuor said the Government would assist any individual or groups from the area prepared to invest in saw milling, to create employment for the people, especially the youth.

Nana Appiah Nuama Obrempong II, Paramount Chief of Twifo Traditional Area, commended the Government for the numerous development projects in the area in his welcoming address.

He, however, called for the rehabilitation of the Assin Fosu-Twifo Praso and the Twifo-Praso to Dunkwa-On-Offin roads.

Nana Obrempong appealed to the Government to include a representative from the area on TOPP's Board of Directors; payment of royalties on the Kakum National Park to the District Assembly and the payment of compensation to farmers, whose farms were destroyed to make way for the establishment of TOPP.

President Kufuor later rode through the principal streets of Elmina and addressed the University of Cape Coast (UCC) branch of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He urged the students, to take the December 7 elections seriously, because "it is very vital to the country's future" and the students, as future leaders should participate in the development issues of the nation.

"It is your future that will be determined by the December 7 elections, therefore, take it very seriously," he advised.

President Kufuor was expected to address a 'regional rally' of the party at the Chapel Square at Cape Coast later in the day. Throngs of party supporters had set the town agog with jubilation, clad in various party paraphernalia.