Tamale, October 21, GNA - The government has provided three billion cedis for the expansion of water from the main station at Dulung to the Tamale Metropolis next year.
Alhaji Mustapha Ali Idris, Minister of Works and Housing, said this at a forum on Monday at which he presented 200 pieces of student mattresses to needy people in the communities and 75 bicycles to Ward and Village Chairmen of the NPP in the Gulkpegu /Sabonjida constituency.
The bicycles are to facilitate the movement of the chairmen in the organization of the party at the ward and village levels aimed at winning the seat for the NPP in the 2004 general elections. The forum also offered him the opportunity to interact with the members to assess the impact of government activities on the socio-economic life of the people in the communities with the aim of addressing some of the lapses.
Alhaji Idris, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Gulkpegu/Sabonjida Constituency, said the expansion of the water works would benefit communities along the catchments areas as well as provide safe water for six guinea worm endemic villages in the area. He said the Builpela, Zujung, Kakpag-yili, Dato-yili, Adubil-yili and Nakpanzoo communities, which have been identified as guinea worm endemic, would be provided with 40 standpipes to save the people of the incidence of the diseases.
The Minister urged the people in the communities to be tolerant and obey the laws of the land to bring sanity to the region to enhance development.
He said it is the intention of the government to lift the state of emergency imposed on Dagbon and advised the people to be disciplined and uphold brotherhood to ensure peace in the areas. Alhaji Idris advised journalists especially moderators to guide panellists who come to discuss or deliberate on issues on the local FM Radio Stations in the metropolis to avoid inflaming passions.