Elmina, (C/R), July 5, GNA- Paapa Owusu Ankomah Minister of Trade, Industry, President's Special Initiative and Private Sector Development,
on Saturday called on the people of Elmina not to allow politics to divide their ranks. He urged them to remain united and resolute in whatever they do and ensure that the December elections were conducted in a peaceful atmosphere, adding that Ghana was the envy of many African countries due to its democracy and sound economic policies.
Paapa Ankomah said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of Elmina to climax the celebration of this year's Bakatue festival at Elmina under the theme: "Celebrating 10 years of successful traditional leadership: projecting Elmina's potentials; building development partners into the future". The festival, which is celebrated annually, is used to "invoke the powers of the deity Nana Benya" for the continuous protection of the state and the people. It coincided with the 10 anniversary of the installation of Nana Kodwo Conduah VI as Omanhene of Edina traditional area. Paapa Ankomah said the NPP government had done a lot for the Central Region and Elmina in particular and urged them to reciprocate the gesture by throwing their support behind the NPP government to enable it to fulfil the dreams and aspirations of the nation.
The Minister said the future of the country was bright considering the numerous infrastructural development undertaken by the government over the past seven and half years and that interventions like Capitation grant, schooling feeding programme, National Health Insurance Scheme , National Youth Employment Programme, MASLOC , had all been put in place to improve upon the living conditions in the country.
He said the KEEA municipality has also benefited from a number of projects including the dredging of the Benya lagoon in Elmina, upgrading the Edinaman SHS, provision of fire tender and potable water. He pointed out that, Elmina had a lot of resources, especially human resources which, he stressed, could help enhance development of the area and called on the citizens of Elmina, both home and abroad to help in the development the town since the government alone cannot do it and urged them to vote massively for Nana Ato Arthur who is the NPP parliamentary candidate for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) constituency.
Paapa Ankomah also commended the Omanhene for ensuring peace and unity during his 10-year reign and pledged government's support in the development of the area.
Dr. Paa Kwesi Nduom, Flagbearer of the Convention People's Party (CPP) and Member of Parliament for KEEA thanked the people for their support and assistance which have helped him to work effectively in Parliament and promised to continue to provide them with their needs when he becomes the President.
He as an MP he has been able to create jobs for more than 500 people in the country and has also provided electricity and communities libraries in all the four paramouncies in his constituency and called for peace and
unity before, during and after the elections.
Nana Ato Arthur regional minister, also thanked the government for all the development projects provided the region and especially Elmina and called for peace and unity to enable them pursue the Elmina 2015 strategy, adding that the strategy has started yielding positive results and should be sustained.
Nana kodwo Conduah IV in this welcoming address thanked the government for up-grading Edinaman SHS, dredging of the Benya lagoon and paying royalties on the Elmina castle.
He called on politicians to avoid using abusive language in their campaigns to ensure that this year's elections were incident free, adding "for Ghana to attain peaceful and smooth election , Nananom , political parties , religious bodies and civil society must all put their hands on deck".
Nana Conduah also called on those who have not yet registered with the NHIS to do so and also endeavour to register with the National Identification Programme which has began in the region. Nana Conduah was joined by Dr Nduom, Nana Ato Arthur, Papa Owusu Ankomah, Dr J.S Annan NDC Parliamentary candidate for KEEA, Mrs Ama Benyiwa-Doe NDC women's organizer and Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, Omanhene of Oguaa traditional area to cut the anniversary cake which he described as a symbol of unity.
