Paramount Chief of Bongo calls on Government to sit up

Bongo (UE) Dec 29,GNA - Bongo Naba, Baba Salifu Aleemyaarum, has called on the Government to come out with pragmatic measures to lessen the plight of the ordinary Ghanaian.

He said Ghanaians were suffering and stressed the need for the NDC Government to fulfill promises contained in its manifesto as pledged during the 2008 campaigns.

The Paramount Chief made the call during "Azambene festival" celebrated by the citizens of Bongo in the Upper East Region. Ghanaians gave the NDC the mandate to make life worth living and so the party should not forget that though it may seem early to notice, the end of its four year term mandate was getting closer.

Naba Aleemyaarum also expressed disappointment at the lip service being paid by government in the tarring of the Bongo-Bolgatanga trunk road, the construction of township roads and the Gurugu road that lead to Burkina Faso, north of the Ghanaian frontier.

He said the poor state of the road was affecting economic activities and cited the Gurugu Bridge as one amenities that could rake in revenue for the Bongo District Assembly.

Mr. Albert Abongo, Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, said the Government was more committed to rural development and would do all within its power to rural life attractive. He disclosed that the Gurugu Bridge contract had been advertised in the dailies and that the Bongo-Bolgatanga road has been repackaged for construction next year.

Mr. Abongo, who is also a Member of Parliament for the area, said the Rural Electrification Project which was abandoned some years back had been re-instituted.

"Some communities have just benefitted. It would be extended to all rural areas in the country."

He stated that Government through his Ministry would drill 2000 boreholes in deprived areas in the country of which Bongo District would host about 300 boreholes.

According to Mr. Abongo, very soon Bolgatanga, Bongo and Navrongo would enjoy constant supply of water through a common line. On housing, he said Government had completed negotiations with the Korean Government on building projects for civil servants and non-civil servants that would commence soon.

He indicated that Government was more committed to improving agriculture and said the determination is as a result of the number of people engaged by the sector.

Mr. Abongo said government was providing subsidy on fertilizers and other farming inputs and that more dams would be provided for farmers to expand their activities.

He said the decentralization concept was making greater impact and was being strengthened further to enhance democracy at the grassroots. The festival which was on the theme:"Culture Re-awakened to Promote Education, Sustainable Environment and Afforestation" is annually celebrated by the People of Bongo to commemorate the migration of their ancestors from Nalerigu in the Northern Region to Bongo.

It is usually an occasion for prayers and invocation for peace and unity and stocktaking of development projects in the area.