Government will unite Ghanaians - Kufuor

Dodowa (GAR), Oct. 12, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Saturday, stressed the government's commitment to unite Ghanaians to lift the country up for socio-economic development.

He was addressing a durbar of the Chiefs and people of the Shai Traditional Area to climax their annual Shai Ngmayem Festival at Dodowa, in the Greater Accra Region.

The festival, which commemorates a bumper-millet (Ngma) harvest after a seven-year drought period is celebrated in October of every year.

He said government's policies and programmes would lead Ghanaians to prosperity, ensure that the people are true owners of the land, self-confident, know their rights and responsibilities, adding that, it would listen to the people and not lord over them.

President Kufuor said Ghana is expected to reach the completion point under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative by the middle of next year, which would put the country on the threshold of the mainstream of economic development.

He said the recent announcement by the Bank of Ghana (BOG) to reduce the Prime Rate on borrowing to the commercial banks from 26 per cent to 24 per cent this month should be a morale booster to local investors and entrepreneurs since the banks are expected to reduce lending rates.

President Kufuor called on the chiefs and people to unite for an effective development of the area.

Nene Nagai Kassa VII, Paramount Chief of the Shai Traditional Area, pledged the unflinching support and confidence of the people in the government to develop the country.

He called on the people to refrain from acts that divide their ranks such as petty squabbles and litigation, which affect development. Nene Kassa commended government for selecting Ghanatta Senior Secondary School to be upgraded and appealed for the provision for more facilities at the Dodowa Health Centre to upgrade it into a District Hospital and the provision of telephone facilities.

He called on government to rehabilitate roads in the area, such as the Dodowa-Afienya and the Doryumu-Kordiabe roads.