Minister urges people of Bui to support NPP

Bui (B/A), March 18, GNA - Mr Ignatius Baffour-Awuah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, on Tuesday urged the people of Bui in Tain District to vote massively to retain the New Patriotic Party in power in this year's elections taking into consideration expected socio-economic benefits they will gain from a new hydro-power facility being built in the area.

"My dear friends, President Kufuor is about to leave and you have to vote for his successor to sustain the various employment opportunities the project has presented to you.

"You have to keep the Party in power so it can continue with its good works. The project could grind to a halt when a new Party takes over," Mr Baffour-Awuah said at a meeting with stakeholders, chiefs and people of Bui when he toured the project site.

The government is building a 600 million-dollar 400 megawatt-dam at Bui to supplement national energy supply which has dwindled over the years, leading to a national power crisis between August 2006 and September 2007.

The project is being funded with a concessionary loan from China. Mr Baffour-Awuah urged the workers, particularly locally-hired labour, to be law-abiding and work conscientiously with the Chinese contractors to ensure early completion of the project.

He appealed to set up an office in the town to deal with complaints from the people and asked the District Chief Executive to register unemployed locals for recruitment on the project.

Nana Kwadwowuo II, Chief of Bui, appealed to the Regional Minister to pay regular visits to the area for periodic assessment of the project to enable the indigenes stay abreast with progress of work.