Kufuor re-assures Tamale disaster victims of support

Tamale, April 29, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Sunday paid a day's working visit to disaster areas within Tamale Metropolitan Area and called on Ghana's development partners for support to re-settle the affected victims.

"Government alone cannot meet the total cost of the damage. Ghana's economy would dislocate if government alone bear all the cost," he added.

President Kufuor made the call when addressing some disaster victims in Tamale.

"Government would take the necessary steps to bring relief to the disaster victims in Tamale," he said.

The disaster caused by a severe rainstorm on Saturday, April 21 destroyed 750 private homes, 59 government bungalows, 36 schools, 180 electricity poles and displaced 6,900 people. The total cost of destruction was estimated at about 39.8 billion cedis.

President Kufuor said Government would not concentrate on government properties that were destroyed but pay more attention on private homes to relieve the affected persons from the trauma they had gone through.

"Whether it is a natural disaster or man-made, Government cannot overlook it and leave the people to suffer," he added.

President Kufuor advised the committee inaugurated to supervise the distribution of relief items to work diligently and make fair and just distribution to ensure that political tags were not attached to them to win public confidence.

Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Northern Regional Minister said President Kufuor and Government shared in the plight of the victims and called for co-operation and understanding during the distribution of the relief items.

President Kufuor on arrival paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Ziblim Abdulai, Regent of Tamale and assured the chiefs and the people of Tamale that the Tamale Teaching Hospital was receiving attention. He announced that Dutch Government had provided 40 million dollars out of the estimated 70 million dollars needed to renovate the hospital and Government would provide the remaining 30 million dollars for work to begin soon.

President Kufuor appealed for the sustenance of peace in Dagbon, mutual trust and understanding between the people to ensure that the country was developed for Ghanaians.

He was accompanied by Mr Boniface Gambilla, Upper East Regional Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Tamale Metropolitan Chief Executive and some District Chief Executives. 29 April 07