VEEP addresses durbar

Techiman (B/A) Aug. 24, GNA - The Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the weekend explained in Techiman that the recent opening of a farmers' market at Baatsona, near Tema was to ensure that foodstuffs are affordable to workers the people, especially workers.

He said the scheme, put up by the District Assemblies in the area was not meant to displace middlemen or the market queens, "but just to create the opportunity for the people to buy foodstuffs at affordable prices".

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Techiman Traditional Area to round off the celebration of this year's Ohene Ameyaw Fofie Yam festival, the Vice President stressed that the practice was all over the world and is therefore, nothing new to deprive anybody's livelihood. Alhaji Mahama said the government is determined to rehabilitate and re-gravel roads in the Techiman area, a major commercial and food production area, to facilitate the transportation of foodstuffs to marketing centres.

Osabarima Dotobibi Takyia-Ameyaw 11, Omanhene of the area, noting that the festival was a period of reflection and stocktaking in order "to take giant strides" in the future urged chiefs in the area to lead the crusade against poverty, illiteracy, environmental degradation, HIV/AIDS and teenage pregnancy.

He appealed to the people to refrain from unnecessary litigations at the law courts, which are "time consuming and money wasting", and to ensure peace in the area to complement the President's efforts in this direction.

The Omanhene commended the government for dealing swiftly with the armed robbery phenomena in the country and appealed for assistance for the completion of a 3.5 billion cedis police barracks at Techiman. He appealed for a comprehensive engineering plan to build a storm drainage and sewerage system to forestall the perennial flooding and contamination of sources of drinking water in the area. Among those present were Ministers of State, MPs and District Chief Executives. 24 Aug. 03