Minority urged to advise government on national issues

Zabzugu, (N/R), Jan 24, GNA- Mr Ernest Debrah, Northern Regional Minister has called on members of the minority political parties to offer constructive advice to the government.

He said since it was the people who would always elect politicians into office it was the moral duty of all the political parties to team up to resuscitate the economy.

Mr Debrah was addressing a People's Assembly at Zabzugu in the Zabzugu-Tatale District on Friday as part of the government's efforts to explain its policies and programmes to the people and to offer them the opportunity to ask questions on issues they did not understand.

The Minister noted that one thing that was killing the Ghanaian society was rumour mongering and misinformation and urged the supporters of the various political parties to make it their moral duty to "nip this canker in the bud".

Other Ministers supported Mr Debrah to explain the government's policies and programmes at the forum.

The are Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, Deputy Minister of Tourism and Modernisation of the Capital City, Alhaji Bukari Ben Salifu, Minister of State in-charge of Public Sector Reform at the Office of the Senior Minister, Mr Seidu Sofo, Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways and Mr Issah Ketekewu, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

Mr Debrah called on Ghanaians to give their support and cooperation to the government by ensuring that there was unity and peace in the communities to enhance development.

During an open forum the people asked questions bordering on poor road network, inadequate teachers and nurses at the schools and health facilities, unemployment among the youth, low prices of agricultural produce, lack of communication facilities, poor sanitation and the extension of electricity to communities in the district.

On sanitation, Mr Ketekewu told the forum that the Sector Ministry was in league with the Ministry of Finance to release funds for the purchase of tipper tractors for distribution to all the 110 district assemblies for use in sanitation activities.

In an answer to a question on low prices for agricultural produce, Mr Boniface said the government was bringing in machinery to process food crops and add value to them.