Govt alone cannot eradicate poverty in rural areas

Enyan Owomase (C/R), Nov. 12, GNA - The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, Mr. Kenneth Kwesi Obempong has called on the people in the rural areas not to look up to the government alone to get them out of poverty.

He said if the people themselves were not determined to improve their lifestyles, no interventions from the government would make any meaningful impact on their standard of living.

Addressing a durbar to mark the celebration of the annual akwambo festival of the people of Owomase in the Central Region, the DCE advised them to resolve through hard work, determination and investment in their children's education to break the poverty cycle. He urged Ghanaians to change their mindsets towards government property by regarding them as their own and ensuring their regular and prompt maintenance.

Mr. Obempong advised the people to pay serious attention to sanitation so as to prevent contracting diseases, pointing out that HIV/AIDS was real and admonished the people to change their sexual behaviours.

Mr. Ishaque Essilfie, Special Assistant to the Central Regional Minister said there were plans to provide boreholes to communities, which were facing water problems in the region.

Mr. Essilfie suggested to communities to cultivate farms to support payment of fees for needy children and also to support school programmes.

Mr. A.K. Mahdi, Assemblyman for the area urged chiefs to see assembly members as partners in development but not rivals.

He said unhealthy rivalry between some chiefs and assembly members had affected the smooth implementation of the decentralization policy and was retarding progress and development.

Mr. Mahdi called on district assemblies to tap the experiences of some personalities and role models from their areas for the development of the district by involving them in the assemblies' programmes. He commended Prof. F.K.A. Allotey, a renounced Ghanaian Scientists for the numerous services he had rendered to the people of Owomase including the installation of a Solar Lighting System.

Nana Kojo Ampah II appealed to CBOs and NGOs to intensify the HIV/AIDS education campaign in the area and appealed to the district assembly to expedite action on the construction of the school block for the T.I Ahmadiyya Primary School in the town.