Muslim community whishes former Eastern Regional Minister farewell

Koforidua, Feb. 15, GNA - The former Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, has called on the leadership of the Koforidua Zongo to find ways of maintaining the peace and tranquility in the area. He assured them that, all the projects at the Zongo, which were starte= d during his tenure as a Minister, would be continued by his successor. He said he had indicated them in his handing-over notes to the new Regional Minister and promised to be in contact with his colleague to ensur= e their smooth implementation. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo was speaking at Koforidua at the weekend when the Eastern Regional Council of Muslim Chiefs and the Ulemau called on him at Koforidua to congratulate him on his new appointment as Minister of Local Government and Rural Development.

He informed the Muslim leaders that it was the policy of the Governmen= t to bridge the gap in the provision of facilities between deprived communities and the better endowed communities, especially in the area of education. He urged the Muslim communities to make the education of their childre= n a priority. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo debunked an allegation that he did not want to hand-over to his Deputy in the region. He said there was a procedure to be followed in the handing-over and that by the Government policy, Ministers did not hand-over to their deputie= s but to other Ministers unless the President so directed. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo also denied that he had taken a vehicle belonging to the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) away as was being peddled by an Accra based newspaper. He said the vehicle in question was sent for repairs and that it was returned to the RCC before even the newspaper published the false article.

The Secretary of the Council of the Muslim Chiefs, who is also their spokesperson, thanked the former Regional Minister for the support he gave to the Muslim communities in the region. The Council assured the Minister of their continuous prayers for in his new ministry. Later, the Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Yusif Amdani, offered prayers for the President and his cabinet and the country as whole. 1