Sefwi-Akontombra (W/R), June 27, GNA – Dr Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Health, has debunked the notion in some quarters that multi-party politics bred divisions in society.
He said the existence of different political parties to contest for power, promoted political accountability and democracy as well as good governance.
Dr Afriyie stated this at a mini rally to formally introduce Mr Appiah-Kubi Baidoo, as the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the newly created Sefwi-Akontombra constituency in the Sefwi-Wiawso district of the Western Region on Friday.
Mr Appiah-Kubi, 35, who is a bachelor of commerce graduate from the University of Cape Coast, was elected by popular acclamation by all the 61 polling station chairmen, who formed the Electoral College of the constituency.
Dr Afriyie noted that political parties were not sacrosanct and that anybody could change his political affiliation and join another political party of his choice.
He, therefore, charged the Sefwis to rally behind the government and give it another mandate to ensure the speedy development of the area.
Dr Afriyie said the NPP was determined to win all the parliamentary seats in the Sefwi area to enable the members to promote the interest and development of the area.
He announced that a number of health projects had been initiated in the Western Region since the government assumed office and mentioned the establishment of health centres at Asawinso, Akontombra and Adabokrom as few examples.
Dr Afriyie said the next developmental agenda of the government in the area would be improvement of education, agriculture and the construction of roads and bridges.
The Minister denied the assertion by some people that the Sefwi seats were for the National Democratic congress (NDC) and said the Popular Front Party (PFP) won a seat in the 1979 elections.
He called on the people to vote massively for Mr Appiah-Kubi to enable him to transform the fortunes of the people in the area.
Mr Peter Mac-Manu, Western Regional Chairman of the party, said the creation of the new constituency was to give the people a fair representation in parliament and also bring governance to the doorsteps of the people.
He advised party activists to conduct their campaigns on issues, devoid of personal attacks and violence.
Mr Mac-Manu said the government was committed to the improvement of the living standards of the people and urged them to unite and rally solidly behind the government to ensure speedy development of the area. Nana Akwasi Kwarteng Ababio, chief of Sefwi-Akontombra, together with all the chiefs and queen mothers from the newly created constituency, who were present at the function, appealed to the government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the road networks in the area.
They also called for the expansion of the facilities of the only senior secondary school in the area to attract more students. Mr Appiah-Kubi thanked the party members in the constituency for the honour done him and pledged to unite all the chiefs and people in the area to promote development.
He also pledged to work closely with the media to create awareness on the problems facing the constituency to help attract non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other philanthropic organisations to come to their aid.
Dr Afriyie later donated 40 bicycles worth 40 million cedis to the constituency to enable members to carry out their campaign activities effectively. He also pledged to assist the constituency to acquire a campaign van and other logistics for their campaign activities.
