THE Chiefs and People of the Jasikan Traditional Area in the Oti Region have expressed their appreciation to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for making their half-a-century dream of having their own region a reality.
“We can never find appropriate words to convey our joy, appreciation and gratitude to you (President Akufo-Addo) for making this half-a-century old dream of our people, including our ancestors, come true in our time,” the Paramount Chief of the area, Nana Abram Akpanja VI said.
Nana Abram Akpanja VI said this when addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of the Traditional Area to welcome President Akufo-Addo who is on a two-day working visit to the Oti Region in Jasikan yesterday.
“Buem, Biakoye, Sall, Jasikan, will forever be grateful to Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his government for demonstrating boldness and commitment to principle, notwithstanding the strong, needless opposition against the Oti project by people who had always wished that we, in this part of Ghana, remained relatively less developed for reasons best known to them” Nana Abram Akpanja VI said.
Though disappointed that the capital of Oti, one of the new regions created this year was not sited at Jasikan, Nana Abram Akpanja VI said the people of the area were comforted by the commitment of the President to ensuring an even spread of development infrastructure in the region.
Urging the President to consider siting the soon-to-be constructed Oti Regional Hospital at Worawora, and a University of ICT and Urban Planning at Jasikan, Nana Abram Akpanja VI explained that “these would go a long way to compensate for the leadership role, efforts and expectations our people had invested towards the creation of the Oti Region.”
Showering praises on the President for turning the economic fortunes of the country for good, Nana Abram Akpanja VI said the people were witnesses of President Akufo-Addo’s economic achievements.
“The management of the Ghanaian economy under your leadership has led to a big drop in inflation rate to a single digit of nine per cent whilst economic growth has doubled from about three per cent to six per cent in two years of your rule.
“The agricultural and the services sector have recorded over 100 per cent growth from what you inherited. This, together with other factors, has resulted in a decline in interest rate, thus creating a better climate for business growth,” Nana Abram Akpanja VI said.
Describing the free Senior High School programme as a human capital development programme, Nana Akpanja VI said the policy had made it possible for those who otherwise would not have had secondary education, to have access developing the capital base of the country in the process.
President Akufo-Addo will tomorrow, meanwhile, take his tour to the North East and Savanna regions where he will visit the proposed site for the North East Regional Coordinating Council, and inspect a water project.
The President will on Saturday visit the Daboya Smock Weavers where he will be expected to interact with them and inspect ongoing works at the Sawla District Hospital, amongst other projects.
BY TIMES REPORTER
