<<Print>>

The Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has urged citizens to place Ghana first before any parochial or partisan interest as the nation approaches the 2012 general elections. "The stability, security and progress of the country should be of paramount interest to all Ghanaians�, the Vice President said and specifically appealed to political parties and the media to be circumspect about their pronouncements, activities and reportage. He said in a speech read for him by Dr Christine Amoako-Nuamah, Presidential Advisor in-charge of Policy Coordination and Implementation, yesterday in Tamale at the on-going Northern Regional Policy Fair. The Vice President said the Fair is a clear demonstration of Government�s commitment to make available to the citizenry, opportunities created by Government�s policies and also for dialogue between policy makers and implementers. He said, additionally, by the nature of the fair, Ghanaians can easily make inputs and critique some of Governments� initiatives in an open manner. The fair, which is on the theme: �Empowering the people as we build a Better Ghana� is attracting 120 institutions and 20 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region. Mr John Tia Akologu, Minister for Information, entreated the private sector to take advantage of the opportunities that the policy fair offer so as to create the much needed employment avenues for the youth of the country. He said his Ministry will not relent in its efforts to facilitate a two-way free flow of timely and reliable information between Government and its various publics to ensure that Ghana have dedicated and prosperous citizenry to support its development aspirations. Mr Akologu expressed worry that with the polarisation of the media along political lines, some media practitioners have the negative tendency to misinform the public to satisfy their selfish and parochial interest. �What Ghanaians need to know is the truth and nothing but the truth. The good people of this great land need to know how their taxes and other natural endowments entrusted to Government are being utilised�. �They need to be made to trust their Government for exhibiting good management of the nation and its resources. They need to know the efforts being made by their elected leaders to ensure that they better their lives�, Mr Akologu emphasised. Mr Moses Bukari Mabengba, Northern Regional Minister, said since the assumption of the ruling Government into office, the Northern Region has witnessed tremendous investments in the areas of education, health, roads, agriculture, rural electrification and other programmes such as the national forest plantation development initiative. He said the various MMDAs have also contributed in no small measure towards improving infrastructure facilities in basic and senior high schools, technical and health institutions and markets. The fair will create the platform for dialogue sessions on topics such as: �Better Ghana Agenda - the Northern Regional experience�, �Ensuring food security in the Northern Region�, �the Contribution of the SADA (Savanna Accelerated Development Authority), and alleviating poverty in the Northern Region�. Other topics are: �The Shea butter industry in perspective� and �Harnessing the Tourism potential in the Northern Region for accelerated development�.