President J.A Kufuor on Saturday urged Ghanaians living abroad to collaborate with their counterparts at home to initiate programmes to complement government efforts for the holistic development of the country.
He said a stronger and closer collaboration between citizens abroad and those at home would be an effective vehicle to mobilise both financial, material and human resources necessary to uplift the socio-economic image of, not only the towns and villages but Ghana in general.
The President gave the advice in a speech delivered for him by Ms. Elizabeth Ohene, Minister of State in the Office of the President at a durbar of chiefs and people of Duayaw-Nkwanta in the Tano District of Brong Ahafo to climax their maiden "Homecoming 2002" programme of citizens resident abroad and other parts of Ghana.
The 10-day programme, organised under the auspices of Duayaw-Nkwanta Associations International, a body of citizens of the town living in the United States of America, Canada and Europe, was under the theme, "Quality Education for National Development".
An Educational Trust Fund to provide educational infrastructure and financial assistance to needy but brilliant pupils and students and to promote educational programmes for higher academic standards and educational development in the traditional area was launched at the durbar.
President Kufuor advised Ghanaians resident abroad to avoid the tendency of belittling the intelligence of their counterparts at home and rather to respect each other's views, saying, "as nobody is the sole repository of knowledge and wisdom, everybody has a talent and potential that can be useful for the advancement of the country's progress".
He urged them not to concentrate on developmental projects, especially building of private houses in the already choked cities of Accra and Kumasi but to turn to their towns and villages to give them a face-lift.
The President announced that by the end of 2003, the telecommunication facility for the town would be operational but said the application for a separate District for the area was being considered by a committee at the Ministry of Local Development and Rural Development and that at the right time the appropriate announcement would be made.
Mr Joe Donkor, Member of Parliament for Tano North observed that Duayaw-Nkwanta, with a population of more than 15,000 people needed a community bank to facilitate the easy accessibility of credit by farmers and small-scale traders and business people in the area.
He appealed to the citizens, especially those resident abroad to consider the need for such an economic facility and contribute financially as shareholders to raise the base capital for the establishment of the bank.
Mr Donkor, a deputy Minister of Employment and Manpower Development pledged his assistance to ensure the establishment of the bank.
Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane-Agyei, Tano District Chief Executive announced that in line with government efforts to boost girl-child education, Duayaw-Nkwanta Secondary School would be converted to become the first government girls second cycle institution in the region.
He disclosed that the District Assembly provided 5,800 dual desks to basic schools in the district this year and that the provision would continue in 2003 to ensure that "no pupil sits on kitchen stools in the classroom".
Mr. Sam Freeman Adu Chame, a UK-based citizen and President of Duayaw-Nkwanta Associations International said besides educational development objectives, the body aimed at promoting a socio-economic regeneration programme to provide jobs and investments for the economic emancipation of the people in the area.
Nana Boakye Tromo III, Omanhene of Duayaw-Nkwanta Traditional Area in a welcoming address commended the body for their initiative that had reset the pace and rekindled the enthusiasm of the people for the development of the area.
Mr Samuel Ernest Amankwaah, a timber merchant who presided commended the efforts of the citizens abroad and gave the assurance that those in Ghana would mobilise themselves to sustain the spirit of development in the area.
