<<Print>>

The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, has stated that President Mills� resolve to complete all viable development projects initiated by the previous administration in any part of the country, irrespective of the people�s political affiliation, has confirmed his assertion of being a father to all Ghanaians. He said such an initiative by the Mills administration- especially in the Eastern Region- has won the hearts of the people who, according to him, would vote for the retention of the government at the December polls. The eastern region is a stronghold of the opposition New Patriotic Party and currently has 21 out of the 28 seats in the region, while the ruling National Democratic Congresses (NDC) controls the remaining seven. Dr Apea-Kubi made the statement at the funeral of the Chief Imam of Akyem Oda, the late Abdullah Alhassan at Akyem Oda Sunday The late chief imam, who died on January 2, this year had been succeeded by his deputy, Alhaji Mohamed Hamidu, who was turbaned at the gathering watched by a number of dignitaries such as Dr Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister of Science and Environment who represented Vice President John Mahama, Alhaji Abu Sadat of the Office of the President, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive, Miss Ophelia Koomson and Mr Owusu Boateng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Akyem Oda. According to Dr Apea-Kubi, within the past three years, the eastern region had witnessed rapid development in terms of social amenities such as roads rehabilitation, school buildings, markets, electricity, water and sanitation facilities in most of the communities. He indicated that the main problem was the rehabilitation of some of the bad roads- most of which had been given out on contract. He called on the people to support the government to retain power to continue with its good works. On his part, Dr Mustapha Ahmed assured the people in the zongo communities that the government would not relent in its programme to improve their lot and asked them to send their children to school to become useful citizens to assist in the development of their areas. With regard to the forthcoming biometric registration exercise, Dr Apea-Kubi, Dr Mustapha Ahmed and Mr Owusu Boateng appealed to the people to register since that was the only way to elect politicians of their choice to steer the affairs of the country. Mr Owusu Boateng cautioned elders, especially those in the zongos to discourage their children from being used by politicians to create mayhem during the December elections. Mr Owusu Boateng praised President Mills for assuring Ghanaians that this year�s elections would be peaceful and indicating that the NPP would also do its best to make the elections violent-free. The three politicians praised the late chief imam for his immense contribution that improved the zongo community. Dr Mustapha, on behalf of Vice President Mahama, presented GH�1,000 to the family of the late chief imam while the Dr Apea-Kubi also gave out GH�500 in that respect. Mr Owusu Boateng also presented GH�100 to the bereaved family and pledged to use part of his common fund to educate the children of the late chief imam.