he ground as far as government policies are concerned so that he could inform government for informed decisions to be taken on them.The MCE Hon.Oppong Ababio and the Presiding Member of the Assembly Hon. Otu Essel warmly welcomed the Minister to the Assembly. The MCE used the opportunity to explain to the minister development projects being under taking by the Assembly including the purchase of a bulldozer and a Grader to take care of roads in the municipality, donation of cement to the Sunyani Municipal Hospital, Sunyani Prisons, and Yawsae Methodist Clinic to help in development projects in those institutions, the building of classroom blocks for some schools in the municipality among others.
The MCE was however not happy about the delay in the release of the assembly’s common fund and the high deductions at the common fund secretariat which makes what they finally receive insufficient for projects they have planned for.The Deputy Minister then took time to address the august House. He touched on all facets of human endeavour and explained what government is doing in every area from the economy, Agric, Education, Security, sports, Health among many others. On the economy for instance he said the Mills Government had done well by stabilising the economy and reducing inflation to about 10% from the more than 18% they inherited. He hoped that by December this year his government would have achieved a single digit inflation rate .On Agric he said government is doing well to help farmers with subsided fertilizers, construct
irrigation dams across the country. He also mentioned the youth in Agric policy that the government is implementing seriously. On education he said government has increased the capitation grant by 50%, school feeding programme has been extended and the free exercise books and uniforms to pupils in deprived communities in the country is on course.He said the promised by the NDC to establish a public funded university in the Brong-Ahafo Region is also on course and that a team has been put up by the President to do a feasibility studies on the sighting and the acquisition of land from Nananom. On security he said today unlike some time past armed robbery in the country has been reduced drastically and the slogan “cocaine here, cocaine there has also reduced. On sports he was full of praise for the gallant black stars for the honour done the country in the ongoing FIFA world cup tournament in South Africa.
From the Municipal Assembly at 3:00 pm the Minister paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Sunyani Traditional Area Nana Bosoma Asor Nkrawiri III and his elders at his palace. The Minister conveyed the greetings of His Excellency President Mills and his government to Nananom. He said he was in the palace to seek the approval and blessing of Nananom in his seven (7) days tour of the region. He then explained some policies of the government to them including the university to be built in the region, the STX Korean Housing deal among others.
The Omanhene Nana Bosom Asor Nkrawiri III thanked the Minister for th
e visit. He said they were waiting for the university that the president had promised them. He asked the Minister to remind the President that they had not forgotten the ring road in Sunyani that he promised themWhe he (president) visited the palace, adding “we want to put some names on the ring road and the President should not let those names stuck in our mouths”. The Minister then presented assorted drinks to Nananom. He was accompanied to the palace by the MCE for Sunyani Municipal Hon. Kwasi Oppong Ababio, the Regional Information Officer Mr. Seth Aboagye, Municipal Co-Ordinating Director Mr. Gyamfi Ameyaw, Mr. Steven Blay PPME Officer at the Information Ministry,Mr. Kelly Kwarteng of the office of the deputy minister and others. The Minister also visited the Regional Information Office
Where he visited all the offices and interacted with the workers. On the poor
state of the Regional Information Office, the Minister advised the Regional Information Officer Mr. Seth Aboagye to start working on it in bits saying “that way you can get help from the Ministry but if you submit budget on the whole building, trust me it will not work”.During open forum the Assembly members from these three (3) assemblies asked questions about issues bothering their minds.Others made very useful suggestions which if implemented will go a long way to help improve the various assemblies. Hon. Okoh Tetteh an assembly man (appointee) said most cars in the municipality have turned to the usage gas hence the frequent shortage of the commodity in the municipality. He wanted the government to take a critical look of the situation else the government could become very unpopular. Hon. Bafo Ocrah assemblyman for penkwasi did no
t agree that t
he university to be built in the Brong-Ahafo seemed science bias. He wanted other courses to be added just like it pertains in other public universities like Legon, UDS, KNUST and others. Madam Comfort Ackah Municipal Director of the Non- Formal Education Division of the assembly wanted to know whether the single Spain Salary Structure will take off this month as announced and whether issues raised by Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana CLOSAG have been addressed.Hon. Margret Addae, Assembly woman for Nkwabeng wanted to know why caterers
at the school feeding programme have not been paid for some months. The minister and the MCE did justice to all the questions.
Later in the evening the minister and his entourage toured some radio stations in the town including radio B.A.R and Sky Fm. At these two radio stations he explained government policies to the people. The Minister expressed his happiness at the versatility of Akosua Gyamaa of B.A.R and Kuku Aban of Sky Fm who hosted him.
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