NPP has not abandoned Central Region -Asabee

As presidential aspirants of the various parties criss-cross the regions, seeking the mandate of delegates to enable them lead their parties in the 2008 general election, Stephen Asamoah Boateng, MP for Mfantseman West and Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, has assured NPP activists and sympathizers that Government has not forgotten the Central Region in its development agenda.

Political analysts in the country attribute the electoral victory of the New Patriotic Party in the 2004 general elections to the tide-turning vote of the people of the Central Region. Indeed, the NPP won all but 3 of the seats in the region.

In recent times however, opponents of the NPP government have accused it of abandoning the region after it laid the golden egg, ensuring its return to power.

The Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Environment, Stephen Asamoah-Boateng disagrees. Addressing a grand durbar to climax this year's Fetu Afahye Festival of the chiefs and people of Cape Coast, Mr Asamoah-Boateng debunked the claims by some sections of the people that the NPP government has abandoned the Central Region in its development agenda.

He stated that the construction of the Accra-Yamoransa road, meant to open up the region to attract investment, and the numerous water projects being undertaken to help address the perennial water problems gave ample testimony of the government's commitment towards improving the lot of the people in the region.

The Minister announced plans to rehabilitate the Kotokuraba market in Cape Coast at a cost of ¢20bn, and to develop the Victoria Park into a modern complex at a cost of ¢12bn.

While assuring the people that the NPP government would fulfill all the promises it made before the 2004 elections, Mr Asamoah-Boateng called on them to support the implementation of the various development interventions in their respective communities.

He called on the traditional authorities in the Region to help mobilize the human and material resources in their respective areas to support the efforts being made by government to improve the socio-economic status of the people.

He noted that the efforts to improve the lives of the people would not make the needed impact if the local communities folded their arms and expect government to provide everything for them.

The Minister further stressed the need for effective collaboration between the traditional authorities and government functionaries, to help identify what the actual needs of the people are, and collectively develop and implement programmes to meet them.

He also called on the people to be patriotic citizens and pay their taxes willingly to help government realize the resources needed to undertake development projects.

The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, appealed to the people to remain united and avoid needless conflicts that undermine development.

He attributed the slow pace of development in some communities to the disunity among the people, and called on the traditional authorities and the political leaderships in particular to conduct their activities in a manner that will not divide the people.

The Omanhene of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II appealed to government to construct a factory in the area to make use of the large Kaolin deposits in the area. This, he noted, would help address the serious problem of unemployment which has rendered the youth idle.

Osabarima further urged the citizens of the area to show commitment towards the development of their respective communities.

He deeply regretted the tendency of some citizens to totally ignore their hometowns when they leave for greener pastures abroad. He noted with sadness the fact that "our town is dying,” and reminded the citizens of the need to rise up and rebuild the town.