Rawlings says he will stay in the country after tenure

Damang ( Western Region ) 15 Oct. '98 President Jerry John Rawlings has said he would not leave the country after his tenure of office but would be around to help in the development of the country.

President Rawlings dropped this hint when commissioning an electricity project at a colourful durbar organised by the Chiefs and people of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area at New Damang.

He said although Ghana is heavily indebted from foreign loans contracted, he was happy that such loans have been judiciously used on projects that are beneficial to Ghanaians.

President Rawlings said the National Democratic Congress (NDC ) would never give vague promises but would continue to provide Ghanaians with their needs whenever funds are available.

" Let us invest in our children's education so that by the year 2005 we would see quality education and life at Damang ", he urged.

Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, Acting Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional Area, said the Chiefs and people of the area have observed with great concern that the level of development does not reflect that of economic activities taking place in the area.

"Developments such as roads and hospitals, which Nananom and the Assembly cannot undertake themselves were lacking," he said.

Nana Brempong lamented that the only existing tarred road which does not even qualify to be classified as a third class road is from Tarkwa to Takoradi while the only hospital, which caters for the numerous surface mining associated diseases is the Tarkwa Government Hospital, which was put up so many years ago and badly needs rehabilitation.

He said it was because of these and other problems that the Chiefs in the area had tried in vain to pay a courtesy call on the president for a discussion and hoped the he would grant them the audience. GRi