Govt will ensure clean elections in 2012 -Veep

Nandom, (U/W), Nov. 28, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that the government would ensure that the 2012 general elections are the cleanest ever in the history of Ghana.

Vice President Mahama said Ghana had not only become a shining example for African countries because of her democratic credentials, good governance and respect for the rule of law but also continued to enjoy goodwill all over the world because of her commitment to democratic governance.

The Vice President gave the assurance in a speech read on his behalf by Alhaji Issahaku Saliah, Upper West Regional Minister, during the celebration of the 93Kakube" Festival of the Chiefs and people of the Nandom Traditional Area at Nandom in the Lawra District.

"Kakube" is an agricultural festival which is celebrated annually at the end of every farming season to thank God and their ancestors for a good harvest and pray for a better harvest in the following year if the passing year recorded a poor harvest.

He appealed to well meaning Ghanaians to support the government to achieve its objective of ensuring free, fair and transparent polls in 2012 to further deepen its democratic credentials in order to maintain her leading role in democratic governance in Africa.

Vice President Mahama thanked the Paramount Chief of Nandom, Naa Dr. Puoure Puoube Chiir VII, and his people for using the festival to foster peace and unity among themselves.

He said the government was committed to ensuring that the Nandom Traditional Area got its fair share of the national cake hence the creation of the new Nandom District.

He said agriculture was the mainstay of the economy but inadequate and erratic rainfall hampered in the northern part of the country hence the decision by government to consider the appeal of the Nandom Naa to construct an irrigation facility at Kamba under the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA).

Vice President Mahama said government was committed to improving on the nation's road infrastructure and announced that the Nandom Hospital-Konyugangn-Nabugangn-Domagye and the Midwifery School-Ko roads were captured under the Ghana Social Opportunities Project (G-SOP) and that work would commence soon.

He appealed to the two paramount areas to take steps to resolve the land disputes between the people of Lyssah-Tuopare and Domwine-Boo to promote social and economic development of the affected communities.

The Nandom Naa, Naa Dr. Puoure Puoube Chiir thanked the government for listening to their appeal for a district, adding that the creation of the Nandom District would bring enormous development to the area.