President Mahama waving at the crowd
Hundreds of people drawn from all walks of life, over the weekend, joined residents, chiefs and people of Cape Coast in the Central region to celebrate their annual fetu Afehye festival.
The guests included, President John Mahama, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, politicians from various political parties and other dignitaries.
The festival, themed ‘Celebrating Oguaa Fetu Afahye at 50: Past Achievements and the Way Forward’, marked the 50th anniversary of the inception of the festival.
Speaking at the colourful festival, President John Dramani Mahama expressed concern about the way the Central Region had been rated the fourth poorest region in the country despite its numerous potential resources.
He underscored the need for the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM) to come up with a strategic plan to improve
on the socio-economic conditions of people in the region.
He said Cape Coast was the first place to benefit from western education, civil service and the judiciary, adding that such advantages
should have reflected in the lives and living conditions of the people in the region.
President Mahama observed that the region had played momentous roles in the advancement of the country from the colonial, through
to the independence and post-independence era.
Osaberimah riding in his palanquin
He promised government’s commitment to supporting any policy that would be initiated by CEDECOM to fast track the completion of development projects in the region to lift it out of poverty.
Mr Mahama pledged government’s commitment to completing all the uncompleted projects in the area which were initiated by late President John Evans Atta Mills. He made particular mention of the Kotokuraba Market and the Cape Coast Sports Stadium in this respect.
The President told the enthusiastic crowd that plans were underway to demolish and commence work on the Kotokuraba Market by October 1, 2014 while the Sports Stadium would be completed inAugust 2015.
‘The Komenda Sugar factory after its completion would contribute significantly in the economic fortunes of the people in the area,’ he added.
He charged the Regional Coordinating Council and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) to link up with traders to ensure a smooth relocation to avoid confusion.
Mr Mahama attributed the high rate of cholera cases to increased filth in the nation and called on all to support in ensuring the promotion
of proper sanitation practices in the country.
On the Ebola disease, the President pledged the government’s commitment in taking the necessary steps to check the spread of the disease in the country, calling on all to join the current educational campaign on the disease.
The Paramount Chief of Oguaa Traditional Area, Osaberima Kwesi Atta II, expressed worry about the deteriorating performance of students at the basic education level in the area, adding that the awful performance had deprived students access to some of the prestigious second cycle schools located in the region.
Osaberimah Atta wondered why students fail to focus on their studies and rather visit video centres and dancing halls at night. He emphasised the need for parents to collaborate with teachers to improve the performance of students.
In attendance were the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, Education Minister Prof Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman, the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ebo Barton Odro, and the Deputy Minister of Trade, Kweku Rickets Hagan, among others.
FROM Sarah Afful, Cape Coast
Email:[email protected]
This article has 0 comment, leave your comment.