People assembly held in Tongo and Bongo

Tongo (U/E), April 16, GNA - The Upper East Regional Minister and Acting DCE of the newly created Talensi-Nabdam District, Mr Boniface Gambilla has said that the assembly would vigorously pursue the national policy of poverty reduction under the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) by concentrating on the development of the necessary infrastructure for the smooth take-off of the district.

It will also implement all government policies that would make the district a comfortable place to stay and work in.

Mr Gambilla said this when he addressed the people's assembly forum in Tongo on Thursday.

He answered questions put to him, including inadequate food supply in the area, lack of text books for the FCUBE, roads and the MP Common Fund.

On roads, Mr Gambilla said it is the policy of the government to construct roads linking food production areas in the rural areas to help reduce the high cost of foodstuff.

The government would also tar at least a kilometre of road yearly to link the district capital until all roads are tarred. He pledged that during his administration the road from Winkogo through Tongo to Nangodi would be tarred to open up the district for more facilities.

Mr Gambilla assured the people that all HIPC contracts would be awarded to contractors within the district but cautioned that shoddy work will not be tolerated.

He reminded the people of Tongo-Beo, Gonno, Torsio and Zuarungu who were engaged in a violent conflict earlier this year that a committee has been set up to look into the dispute and urged them to c-operate and also accept the committee's recommendations when it presents its report.

The Regional Minister warned that the government has not come to power to fan trouble and anybody found to be doing so would be disciplined by the security forces.

At Bongo, the Regional Minister assured the people of the region that government was aware of the food shortage in the region due to poor harvest last year.

He said government would solicit help from NGOs and other areas to mitigate the situation.

Answering questions on the use of the MPs Common Fund from both areas, Mr Gambilla impressed upon the people that the MPs Common Fund was the people's own money given to the MPs for their constituencies. He said with immediate effect, the monies would be used by the assemblies to help needy students in schools with the approval of the MP.

He said the money is not the MPs personal fund, and that any child in the district is entitled to the fund by application to the assembly. Mr Gambilla emphasised that every child was important and that helping needy children had nothing to do with the political backgrounds. April 16 05