The Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama made this known in an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor to mark this year's. Abedru Festival for the people of Akrade in the Akwamu Traditional area in the Eastern Region. According to the Vice -President, the clothes for the uniforms were being printed after which the dress makers would start sewing. "We are on course in fulfilling our promise of increasing access to educational opportunities for our people and the government will soon start the distribution of free school uniforms to children of school age in the most deprived communities", he stated. "I am happy to announce that as I speak the uniforms are being printed and once that is done, the local dress makers will take care of the sewing of the uniforms," Mr Mahama stated. Teachers, Mr Mahama stated, would continue to be supported as well as educational institutions to improve their facilities. On agriculture, he said, the Youth in Agriculture Programme would be pursued vigorously with 'mouth-watering packages' adding that the Aveyime Rice Project is now in place. The Vice -President also assured the people of New Akrade that since their livelihood " depended on the Volta Lake, the government would make travelling along the lake safe, adding that by the last quarter of 2010 work would begin to remove tree stumps from the lake and that the tree stump removal project, would create jobs for the youth in the area. Mr Mahama further told the gathering that the government was working closely with the
Ghana Maritime Authority to secure more speed boats to errable the navy carry on with its patrol, especially on the lake. He expressed his appreciation to the people of New Akrade for their tremendous support for the NDC during the 2008 elections which enabled the party to win the elections.
He, however, asked the people to put aside partisanship and unite to develop the town.
"Let me use this platform to thank you for your massive support for the NDC during the 2008 elections and I wish to add that the elections are over, the period for partisan politics are over and we must unite as one people for the area's development", the Vice-President said.
The Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo who also spoke at the durbar expressed regret about the protracted Akwamu chieftaincy dispute which had lasted for 18 years and said such an unfortunate development had polarized the Akwamu people, deprived them of an Omanhene and retarded the area's development.
Mr Ofosu Ampofo therefore appealed to the feuding factions to use the festival to bury their differences. The Regional Minister commended the chief of New Akrade, Nana Okrukata V for establishing a GH¢250,000 educational fund to cater for needy students in the area.
Nana Okrukata expressed the hope that the educational fund would make it possible for many students of poor parentage to go to school and appealed for support from the regional administration and the Asuogyaman District Assembly.
He also appealed to the government to ensure that the Volta River Authority compensated all those whose lands had been sub¬, merged as a result of the creation of the Volta Lake, as well as return unused acquired lands to the owners.
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