OSEI AGYEI INTERACTS WITH CONSTITUENTS (PAGE 36)

STORY: Kwame Asare Boadu, Apenso

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ejisu-Juaben, Mr Akwasi Osei-Agyei, has toured some parts of the constituency to discuss the area’s development with the people, and explain government policies and programmes to them
Mr Osei-Agyei, who is also the Minister of Foreign Affairs, visited Apemso, Abetenem, Ofoase, Nkyerepoase and Krofrom, where he had first-hand information of some of the problems of the communities.
Chiefs, assembly members and other members of the public in the communities were given the opportunity to speak their minds about their areas’ development.
Generally, they were appreciative of the level of development witnessed in their respective communities but stressed the need for the MP to do more to address other problems they faced in a bid to make the area attractive to live and work.
At Apemso, the acting Odikro, Nana Kwaku Antwi, praised the government for the strides it was making to bring development closer to the people.
He, however, called for efforts to improve the road network linking the area to Juaben.
At Abetenem, the Odikro, Nana Owusu Ababio, expressed concern about the lack of market for farmers who had cultivated large tracts of orange farms.
He appealed to the government to support them to market their produce in order to encourage the youth to take up farming.
Nana Owusu Ababio, said he and his people would support the MP to chart a path of progress for the town.
Addressing the people at separate meetings, Mr Osei-Agyei said he had remained faithful to the course of the constituency.
He said he had used his share of the District Assemblies' Common Fund and personal resources to finance a number of development projects and programmes in the constituency.
According to him, he had managed to solicit support from the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to undertake various development projects in Ejisu-Juaben.
To date, Mr Osei-Agyei said he had offered scholarships to 110 brilliant, needy students in the constituency at various levels of education.
He had also undertaken various development projects including the rehabilitation of schools, provision of water projects, donation of cement to undertake various projects in some of the communities, monetary support for electrification projects and donation of hospital equipment.
Mr Osei-Agyei said about 92 per cent of the constituency now enjoyed electricity, adding that the remaining eight per cent, which included the communities he visited on his tour, would be covered this year.
He called on the people to rekindle their communal spirit to complement the efforts of the government, district assembly and the MP in bringing development to their doorsteps.
At Apemso, where the MP inspected a borehole water project he was financing, he urged the people to take good care of it when it was completed.
Mr Osei-Agyei also announced the allocation of funds from his share of the common fund to construct a junior high school (JHS) in the community. Currently there is no JHS at Apemso.
He offered to pay the premium for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) for 10 needy people at Apemso.
The minister urged the people to pay special attention to the NHIS by registering with it to address the problems they encountered in health financing.