DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION VISITS TANO SOUTH DISTRICT

The Deputy Minister of Information, Honorable James Agyenim Boateng has paid a familiarization visit to the Tano South District and educated the public on government policies and programmes and also acquainted himself with problems affecting the District. At Bechem, the district capital of Tano South District, the Deputy Minister said, government is putting measures in place to encourage public sector workers in the country to put in their maximum efforts towards the attainment of the better Ghana Agenda. Honorable Agyemin Boateng hinted that the current government is a selfless government that seeks to the welfare and needs of the people.

During the open forum some of the people voiced out their views and suggestions on the way forward on some government policies and programmes such as the National Youth Employment Programme, School Feeding Programme, Farmers Pensioners Scheme Policy and the National Health Insurance Scheme.

Touching on security, the Deputy Minister assured that the government in conjunction with the Japanese Government would be constructing bungalows and barracks for the security agencies across the country.

On Agriculture, Honorable James Agyenim Boateng said, the government has plans to improve agricultural practices such as rice farming, cocoa farming and cash crop farming in the country. He recalled that the farmers’ pensioner scheme and spraying of cocoa farms are some of the attributes of the current government.

In a welcome address, the Tano South District chief Executive, honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba said the success of every government depends largely on an effective information dissemination system where policies and programmes are explained to the citizenry.

This he said promotes participatory democracy which seeks a better government. He commended the Ministry of Information for educating the public on the Better Ghana Agenda of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Government. Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba urged the people to take the programme in good faith.

On education, the Minister revealed that government is planning to establish a Public Funded University in the Region as promised during the electioneering campaign of the NDC to help enroll more students into the university and also construct more classroom blocks to enhance quality education in the district. He further assured the people that government through the District Assembly Common fund would support brilliant, but needy children in the district to further their education to a higher level. Mr. Agyenim Boateng said the distribution of uniforms, food and exercise book would be extended to other parts of the district to help reduce the burden on parents. The distribution of these items, the minister said would create employment for tailors and seamstresses in the district.

SENIOR CITIZENS HONOURED IN TANO SOUTH DISTRICT

The Member of Parliament for Tano South District Honourable

A ndrews Agyei Yeboah has called on senior citizens in t he Tano South District to inculcate in the youth the spirit of discipline and sense of belongingness. This he said would help them to forward march Ghana. Mr. Adrews Agyei Yeboah made this call at the residence of the Tano South District Chief Executive to mark Ghana’s 50^th Republic Day Celebration

A representative of the Senior Citizens Nana Asubonten, (aka Chief Driver) appealed to the government to consider treatment of certain diseases, especially kidney diseases free for the older people in the society. He also called for discipline and tolerance among the various political party supporters in the district. Mr. Steven Antwi also a senior citizens advised his fellow citizens to put their differences behind and support the government to achieve the better Ghana agenda.

The District Chief Executive assured that government has put in place good mechanisms to take care of the elderly in the society. He outlined the

new pension scheme and the National Health Insurance Scheme as some of the mechanism the government has implemented. Honourable Bukari Anaba Zakari advised the youth to celebrate the day in unity, tolerance and emulate the hand work of the senior members of the society in order to promote the development of the district.

The Member of Parliament saluted all Senior Citizens who have toiled through their youth contributing to the growth and development of the district. Mr. Andrews Agyei Yeboah therefore advised the senior citizens to desist from immoral acts that would send them to their grave early.

Also in a speech the Tano South District Chief Executive, Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba expressed his special greetings and felicitation to the gallant and distinguished senior citizens in the district for their toil, dedication and selfless services to the development of the district. Honorable Bukari Zakari Anaba quoted a popular saying that “a nation that fails to honour its heroes and heroines is not worth dying for”. This he said is the reason that since July 1, 1960, Ghana continues to celebrate and honour such gallant citizens of the land.

The programme was chaired by the former District Chief Executive for Tano South District, Honourable Opoku Atuahene. The senior citizens were entertained to old school music and merry making.