Sunyani Municipal Assembly affirms commitment to development?

Abesim (B/A) Nov. 7, GNA – Mr Kwasi Oppong-Ababio, Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive at the weekend re-echoed the assembly’s commitment to ensure equitable distribution of development projects without political favours.

Addressing the chiefs and people of Abesim, near Sunyani, at a fund raising rally, Mr Oppong-Ababio said the assembly would not hesitate to support communities that would initiate “self help” development projects.

The rally was aimed at raising money for the “Abesim Education Endowment Fund, initiated by the people to support the expansion of the local Senior High School.

Mr Oppong-Ababio explained that the municipal assembly alone could not shoulder the responsibility of bringing infrastructural development to all communities.

He indicated that whilst the assembly tried as much as possible in developing the communities, it behoved community leaders to also lend their support by organising communal labour activities.

The Municipal Chief Executive said the assembly’s common fund was not enough for the development of the area and appealed to the people to co-operate with revenue collectors and pay their rates in mobilising the needed resources to facilitate the process.

Mr. Oppong-Ababio advised the people to regard education as a useful tool for accelerated national development and appealed to parents to enrol their school-going age children in school.

He admonished parents and guardians to minimise their expenses on luxurious items and provide their children and wards with basic educational needs to maintain their interest in school.

Mr Oppong-Ababio said the government’s “better Ghana agenda” is still on course and called on the people to vote and retain the National Democratic Congress in the 2012 general election to enable the government to complete its initiated projects.

The Chief Executive later presented GH¢ 1,000 to support the fund.

Barima Kumi Achiaw II, Chief of Abesim observed that the spread of diseases and poverty could be brought under control in the society if the people acquire higher education.

He said due to high school dropouts, most of the youth in the area had become alcoholics and drug addicts while teenage pregnancy is also on the increase.

Barima Achiaw II entreated parents and teachers to monitor and check the activities of children most especially after school hours to guard them associating with people with questionable characters.

He said to generate more money into the fund every woman is mandated to pay GH¢ 2 whilst their male counterparts would offer GH¢ 4 every year.

Barima Achiaw said the traditional council has decided not to allow any family or individual who refused to pay the money to bury and organise funerals for their deceased relatives in the town unless a fine of GH¢100 is paid.

He advised the people to ensure that they live in unity with the various ethnic groups in the area to promote the prevailing peace and facilitate the pace of development.

Barima Achiaw stated that even though traditional rulers are barred from active politics, the traditional council would continue to embrace and support political parties that would promote the development of the area.

The chief advised farmers, hunters, palm wine tappers and cigarette smokers to be careful about how they handle naked fires to minimise the outbreak of bushfires in during the dry season.