Government is committed to equitable national development - Minister

Mr. Paul Evans Aidoo, Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister has assured the chiefs and people of Jaman North District of government�s commitment to provide the area with their fair share of the national cake. He said this would be realised through government�s provision of socio-economic infrastructural facilities like the commencement and completion of roads, electricity and water supply, educational and health projects through the various District Assemblies. Mr. Aidoo gave the assurance at the palace of the Paramount Chief of Sampa to begin his one-day inspection tour of the Jaman North and Jaman South Districts at the weekend. It was to enable him to introduce himself to the chiefs and people of the two Districts and also to inspect both completed and on-going government projects by the Assemblies. The Regional Minister who is also Member of Parliament (MP) for Sefwi Wiaso, promised to remind Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, Majority Leader and Minister of Government Business and Parliamentary Affairs on the need to formalise the commitment he made as former Minister of Health to the people of Jaman North about the establishment of a Nursing Training School at Sampa. He commended Nana Kwadwo Magsah II, Chief of the Adonten Division of the Sampa Traditional Area and acting President of the Traditional Council for his up-to-date knowledge of development projects being undertaken by the Assembly. Mr. Aidoo said it was highly commendable because it signified how the Traditional Council and opinion leaders of the area were monitoring the Assemblies activities and progress while also complementing the assemblies' role in the efficient delivery of quality service in the interest of the people. Nana Magsah in a welcoming address conceded that government had done a lot to improve the socio-economic status of the District, the on-going Sampa town roads reshaping and resurfacing project, and other education, health and electrification projects. He however pointed out that most of the feeder roads in the District were in a deplorable state, saying that the situation retarded the people's economic activities, especially the carting of farm produce to market centres. Nana Magsah therefore appealed to the Regional Minister to prevail upon the Department of Feeder Roads to tackle the situation to boost agricultural productivity in the area. The chief expressed worry that the cashew industry, the main economic activity of the people, was not receiving the needed government support for the marketing of the cash crop. Meanwhile, Mr. Aidoo had earlier inspected a number of projects at Sampa funded by the Assembly. They included a GHC270,788.04 Emergency Ward at the Sampa Government Hospital and the District Education Office Block. The two projects being funded by the District Development Facility (DDF) were at the finishing stage. The other two were the completed District Assembly funded District Police Headquarters and the District Fire Station projects at the cost of GHC185,116.11 and GHC198,509.54 respectively. The Regional Minister commended the District Chief Executive, Hajia Amina Amadu for the execution of those projects, saying that the completion of the Police Headquarters and Fire Service projects were a mark of her concern for effective security and safety of the people of the area.