THE VICE President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama last Friday went to the rescue of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Freddie Blay when he pushed aside his prepared speech and told the Constituents of Ellembelle publicly to support their MP.
Though the Vice President’s three-page prepared speech did not contain any political material, which sought to canvass for support for Hon. Freddie Blay who has been under pressure from constituents, particularly the people of Nkroful, for not championing developments in the area, Alhaji Mahama was eventually able to find some comforting words to tell the Chiefs and people of Nkroful.
Apparently to calm down tempers of the people of Nkroful, following what they continue to describe as Freddie Blay’s non performance to initiate developmental programmes in the area, the Vice President told the Traditional Chiefs and the Constituents at the launch of Nkroful Development Fund (NDF) last Friday that “ NPP government has been working closely with the CPP Members of Parliament and I tell you your Freddie is a good partner and material.”
He urged the Chiefs and Constituents to support the MP to initiate and bring development to Nkroful, the birthplace of the Man at the centre of Ghana’s independence, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory.
The Vice President’s timely admonition comes after Freddie Blay and his team of campaign men were openly rebelled and revolted against during a tour of some of the communities, including Nkroful, in his constituency, which was subsequently reported in The Chronicle last Friday.
Hon. Freddie Blay, earlier addressing the Chiefs and people of Nkroful called on them to be ready to commit themselves to the development of Nkroful and Mother Ghana. To him, the launch of Nkroful Development Fund was enough evidence of many glad tidings to come to Nkroful.
“Therefore all have a role to play in the development of Nkroful and mother Ghana as a whole, irrespective of one’s background,” he noted.
Speaking with his hands behind him, the MP thanked the government for the launch of the Nkroful Development Fund, stressing that the day was also to commemorate the death of Nkrumah.
The Regional Minister, Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah noted that government was committed to developing Nkroful and called on the people to also make concerted efforts in that direction.
The three MPs for Nzemaland, Honourables Freddie Blay (Ellembelle), Kojo Armah (Evalue-Gwira) and Lee Ocran (Jomoro), donated 15 Million cedis each to the fund. Hon. Kwamena Bartels, Minister for Information and National Orientation, on his part also donated five million cedis to the fund.
Meanwhile, the Nzema Association in United States of America and Canada has pledged a sum of 5,000 dollars for the development of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s birthplace.
The Spokesperson for the Association, Mr. Armah Kofi-Buah, in a press release, also pointed out that there were plans underway to build a state of the art hospital at Elubo to cater for the health needs of the people of Nzema.
A proposal for the building of the hospital has also been sent to renowned philanthropic organizations for assistance to that effect.
On the environment, the release stated that surface mining in Ellembelle needed a serious review, as that tends to wreck the environment through mercury pollution and as a result, could affect the water bodies in Nzemaland and reduce farmlands.
