Price increase in fuel is inevitable - Nana Ntow

A Government's Spokesman, Nana Ohene Ntow, has stated that the NPP, while in opposition, opposed the former governments' attempt to increase the price of petroleum products "due to the inability of the NDC to explain to the people the realities on the ground."

He said the Kufuor administration would continue to practice an "open administration" to explain issues to Ghanaians before implementing its policies, adding that the fuel price increase is inevitable.

Nana Ohene Ntow who was speaking at the Birim South People's Assembly held at Akim Oda on Wednesday, asked filling station managers to guard against hoarding of petrol so as not to create unnecessary panic among motorists and travelers.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, mentioned infrastructure, modernisation of agriculture, education and health as the priority of areas of the government.

He said the government was committed to rehabilitating some major roads in the country such as the Accra-Aflao, Accra-Kumasi and Akim Oda-Nkawkaw trunk roads.

On the mass cocoa spraying exercise, Dr Osafo-Mensah stated that the government would not give the insecticide to individual farmers to spray their farms as been suggested in some quarters.

This, he explained, is to ensure that none of the insecticide was diverted to other sources and also to ensure that all cocoa farms were sprayed to help boost the country's cocoa production.

He said the "cash-and-carry" policy was being replaced "methodically" with the health insurance policy, but cautioned however, that "the idea does not mean free medical services to the people."

The District Chief Executive, Mr Yaw Amprofi, noted that the government's determination to provide vehicles to the police to assist them on patrol duties had led to the reduction of crime waves.

He appealed to Ghanaians to be patient with the government in its efforts to salvage the economy, saying "it takes time to repair something which has been destroyed over the years."