Tano South candidates pledge to develop constituency

Bechem (B/A), Nov. 19, GNA - Two of three candidates vying for the Tano South seat have given assurance to make unit committees, town and area councils effective decision making bodies to help develop the area. They said the sub-structures had for the past years not been functioning and this had made it difficult for the district assembly to provide the needs of the people. Mrs. Josephine Ataa Opong of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) and Mr. Prince Kofi Diawuo, a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) propaganda committee who represented Mr. Kwadwo Owusu Agyemang, NDC parliamentary candidate, were engaged in a public debate on Tuesday at Bechem.

The debate, organized by the Social Development and Improvement Agency (SODIA) in collaboration with the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS) in Tamale, was aimed at providing a platform for the candidates of the NPP, NDC and CPP to present their visions for the district.

The candidates said a community that needed a water project would not be satisfied if provided with a tarred road net-work and that involving the sub-structure bodies in decision making would help address such problems.

The two parliamentary candidates identified the ineffectiveness of the Public Relations and Complaints Committee of the assembly and promised to fight to reinforce its activities to promote accountability, probity and transparency.

Questions posed by the moderator Mr. Richard Kambootah, a facilitator from the Institute of the local government Studies, covered a wide range of issues including promoting quality education, improving agriculture to meet the demand of the market, better health care delivery and how to make traditional authorities effective tools in the development of the district.

Mrs. Opong said education would be her major priority when voted into power to help facilitate the development of the area. She said under her administration, technical and vocational institutions would be upgraded and made accessible to students in the district to acquire skills. On agriculture, Mrs. Opong pledged to provide credit and loan facilities for farmers.

Mr. Diawuo said information technology centres would be established in some communities in the district. He said part of the MP's Common Fund would be used to expand the existing scholarship scheme for needy but brilliant students within the district.

Mr. Diawuo said a massive campaign would be carried out on HIV/AIDS awareness creation to minimize the prevalent rate of the pandemic in the district.

On roads the NDC representative stated the road network in the district would be improved through the MP's Common Fund and individual contributions.

Nana Fosu Gyeabour Akoto II, Omanhene of Bechem, expressed worry about the candidates' failure to touch on peace and appealed to them to preach peace in their electioneering campaigns. He appealed to the people, especially the youth, not to be misled by any political party to engage in violent acts but to desist from any activity that could mar the peace and stability in the country.