Koforidua (Eastern Region), 8 Dec. ’98 – The government has contracted 60 firms to undertake the rural electrification project to ensure that by the year 2001, about 1,400 communities are connected to the national grid. Mr Fred Ohene Kena, Minister for Mines and Energy, and leader of the Eastern Regional Caucus of the NDC, told the first extended Eastern Regional Executive meeting of the party at Koforidua at the weekend. He said the water level of the Akosombo Dam has slightly exceeded the expected level, adding that measures are being taken to ensure that the country does not go through power rationing again. Mr Ohene Kena noted that the most difficult problem facing the government now is how to create jobs for the large number of unemployed youth in the country and charged constituency executives of the party to identify economically viable projects for government support. The Minister called on NDC executives not to give promises but to demonstrate their achievements during the campaign for the year 2000 elections. Mr J.W. Agyekum, Eastern Regional Secretary and National Organiser of the party, appealed to the donor community to support the Electoral Commission to provide new identity cards with photos for all voters before the elections. He said the party is to organise a seminar for its operatives in the region to sharpen their organisational skills early next year. Ms Patience Adow, Eastern Regional Minister, appealed to members of the reform group within the NDC, to exercise restraint in their activities. She called for patience, tolerance and understanding and said that the end of 1998, would see an end to all differences within the party for it to start on a new note in 1999. Mr David S. Boateng, a presidential aid, said that people who are calling for reforms in the party do not understand the objectives of the NDC and called on activists to use laid down channels to express their grievances. Mr Fuzzy Torbey, MP for Okere, on behalf of NDC Members of Parliament from the region, called on party functionaries to work hard to ensure total victory for in the 2000 elections. Mr Emmanuel Adu-Boateng, New Juabeng Municipal Chief Executive, on behalf of district chief executives in the region, advised constituency executives to settle all differences between them and DCEs within the party’s structures. Mr Kofi Safro, Regional Chairman, called for tolerance between the party’s parliamentarians, DCEs and party functionaries.
