46 COUNTRIES BENEFIT FROM ELECTRIFICATION INITIATIVE (PAGE 13, OCT 16)

Forty-six communities in the Tain District of the Brong Ahafo Region are to benefit from the Government’s rural electrification initiative which is aimed at opening up rural communities for investment in the area of establishment of cottage industries in order to speed up development.  
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Tain, Mr Jones Samuel Tawiah, disclosed this during a familiarisation visit to the Banda Traditional Area in the Tain District.
He said the commencement of the electrification project was also in fulfilment of the Government’s campaign promise to the people of the area.
He also expressed the hope that the extension of electricity to the 56 communities would go a long way to raise the standard of living of the people as various big and small-scale industries could be established in the beneficiary communities to create jobs.
“Our government will not promise what it cannot deliver. We are committed to our promises because the electorate believed us when we told them”, stating further that aside the 56 communities, the district had plans to extend electricity to various towns that had expanded over the years.
Mr Tawiah stated further that his administration would complete all projects initiated by the previous regime to avoid a waste of resources.
According to the DCE, it was time to breakaway from the culture of abandoning projects initiated by previous administrations, and start all over again, saying it was better to correct and complete projects initiated by the previous administration since it was the tax payer’s money that was used in financing such projects.
He urged the people to unite now that the political season was over, and that “the elections are over, let us shelve all our political colours and rally behind the Government to bring development to the people because it would not take it away when it is out of power”.
The DCE said most of the contractors who had submitted all their relevant documents had been paid to ensure timely delivery of the project.
“Provisions have been made to pay more contractors to enable them to go back to site,” adding that his administration had reduced the district’s indebtedness from GH¢11 million to a little over GH¢6million.
Mr Tawiah was, however, quick to add that his administration was only paying legitimate claims left by the previous administration.
“We will be commended for what we were able to put right but not what we abandoned simply because it was initiated by political opponent.”
He stressed that as much as resources were scarce, uncompleted projects needed to be identified and completed for the benefit of society.
Mr Tawiah who was warmly received in the various communities he visited, such as Bui, Akanyakrom-Bator, Bogase, Banda Ahenkro, Kabrono and others, disclosed that the district had acquired a grader which would enable the district to ensure regular maintenance of feeder roads.
During the visit, the poor road network was one of the major concerns raised by the people.
He called on the people to take advantage of the Government’s interventions to reduce poverty in the district.