Give meaning to Prez declaration — Ade Coker

GOVERNMENT appointees, especially ministers of state must work assiduously to give real meaning to the Action Year declared by President JEA Mills, especially in the area of offering employment to the teeming youth, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Mr Ade Coker has said.
He noted that the government had put in place all the elements necessary for the execution of the action year which included STX Housing Deal, Reconstruction of the Railways, construction of both the Eastern and Western corridor roads among others.
Addressing party executive, government appointees and community stakeholders in Nima in Accra at an outreach programme organised by the NDC, he explained that President Mills recognised the need to open avenues for job creation through infrastructural development and that was the reason why his administration had embarked on such ambitious programme.
The NDC team, which met community heads, leaders of the GPRTU, traders association, community based groups, religious leaders and party members, included a Vice Chairman of the NDC, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya; Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpong Katamanso, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo; MP for Ayawaso East, Dr Ahmed Mustapha; Chairman of the Civil Service Council, Dr Alex Dodoo and the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije.
So far the executive had been to 12 out of the 27 constituencies in the region.
Mr Coker said it was up to the government appointees to work hard to implement the second phase of the Better Ghana Agenda which was termed “Action Year’ by using the opportunities created to generate employment and build a stronger economy for the people of Ghana. “The people need jobs and a better economy and it was for these reason that President Mills had used his ingenuity and unparalleled leadership qualities to introduce these unprecedented projects, which also included $13 billion loan facility from China for various projects. This is the surest way we can win the elections.”
He noted that it was the works, especially the projects executed, employment generation and the nature of the economy that the Mills Administration would put before the people of Ghana that would be the testament for the party when it appeared before the people of Ghana to ask for their mandate for the next four years.
He said in all the rounds, the people, especially the party members, made it clear to the party executive and the government officials that they were not interested in hand outs from such officials, but they required dignified jobs which could earn them decent salaries and dignity in life.
Mr Coker announced that very soon, probably in June this year, the regional chapter of the party would embark on primaries to elect parliamentary aspirants for constituencies where the party had no sitting MPs and urged the constituency executive to rise above the compassion and lay a level playing field for qualified party members who would show interest.
Members took turns to ask questions about government policies, parliamentary proceedings and other issues.