Angry for waiting for over three hours, one of 16 chiefs who had commuted from various communities to Akyem Ofoase in the Akyemmansa District could not hold his fury but berate the Eastern Regional Minister for being late.
Nana Kwabena Oduro Mensah, Gyaasehene of Ofoase, did not understand why after waiting for so long, they (the chiefs) would not be given the chance to voice out their concerns to the Minister, Ms Helen Adjoa Ntoso, but to hide behind the 'tight schedule' excuse, to wrap up the meeting.
“For the love we have for the Minister, we left our various communities, even at a very short notice and came to sit here since 1100 hours waiting for her who was expected to arrive at 1200 hours”.
“Now she is here, and you are fast tracking to end the meeting without allowing us to tell her what is bothering us”.
The Chief said the district was lagging behind in terms of development and that the Regional Minister should help Mr Tom Budu, the District Chief Executive (DCE), to ensure that development is realized in the area.
He said ever since the district was carved, nothing had been done to improve the bad road networks in the area, adding that, as a farming community, they found it difficult to transport their produce to the marketing centres.
Nana Oduro Mensa expressed the hope that Ms Ntoso being a woman Minister would work hard to bring development to the district saying “Ministers have come and made promises to develop our areas, but they go and we never see any of the promises being fulfilled.”
Obrempong Dubin Nti, the Paramount Chief of Akyem Ofoase, said for five years the district “had not seen any development” and due to that investors are not attracted to do business here.”
“Please focus on the works of the DCEs in the region especially this area to ensure that funds meant for developmental ventures are used appropriately for we are thirsty for development,” he said.
The Regional Minister apologized to the chiefs for keeping them waiting and assured them that she had taken cognizance of their challenges and would give them updates in due course.
She urged the chiefs to work hand-in-hand with the district assembly and to foster peaceful co-existence by offering advice and direction to the public servants anytime the need arises.
Mr Tom Budu led the Minister and her entourage to inspect some completed and ongoing projects in the district.
The projects included a district administration block, a bungalow to house the Coordinating Director and a police accommodation, which are all being constructed with the District Assembly’s Common Fund.
He expressed gratitude to the government for awarding the Akyem Chia - Akyem Ofoase- Akyem Ayirebi roads on contract.
