Regional Minister advises NGOs on development

Ho, April. 26, GNA - Mr. Kofi Dzamesi, Volta Regional Minister has expressed reservations about the sidelining of the region by development oriented NGOs with the excuse that the region was less poorer than others.

He said the conditions of lack of school infrastructure and poverty among women that drew these organisations to those regions, also existed in parts of the region, if not all.

Mr Dzamesi was addressing some Chiefs and Queen Mothers from parts of Ketu District who paid a courtesy call on him on Tuesday. The Minister, said the problems of lack of potable water and bad roads and lack of economic activity that was associated with the vast savannah of northern Ghana existed in the Krachi and Nkwanta districts of the Volta Region as well.

Mr Dzamesi reiterated the policy of the government to continue with all projects started in previous regimes whether the beneficiaries voted for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) or not.

He expressed regret at the slow pace at which registration for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was going on in the region. The Minister said it was unfortunate that people were politicising the scheme and warned that if they failed to use the resources government had released for the scheme they would be the worse off. "Sickness knows no political colour, it would afflict you regardless of who you are or the party you vouch for," Mr Dzamesi said. He denied the assertion that government was facilitating the closure of the Juapong Textiles Limited (JTL), explaining that whatever problems that the factory was facing stems from the programme of the major shareholders to withdraw from the business. Mr Dzamesi, however promised that government was looking at ways to address the problem.

Togbe Addo VIII, Fiaga of Klikor Traditional Area, speaking on behalf of the traditional authorities requested the government to take steps to rehabilitate the Aveyime Rice Project. He called for the intensification of efforts at all fronts to address the issue of elevation of selected chiefs in the region as paramount chiefs.

Togbe Addo, in congratulating the Minister on his appointment said the challenge was a huge one, especially in a region which is not "your party friendly".

During an open forum, some chiefs called on government to ensure that teaching was effective in all schools alongside preparations to implement the white paper of the education review committee.