The government has not hastily opted for military intervention as a solution to Cote d’Ivoire’s political impasse because of Ghana’s security and
economic stability, Mr. Eric Opoku, the Deputy Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has said.
He said the stable political atmosphere prevailing in the country was not as a result of internal security measures alone but also due to the peace and order prevailing in neighbouring countries.
The Deputy Regional Minister said “mind your own business” statement made by President John Atta Mills about Cote d’Ivoire’s political stalemate did not imply undermining the efforts
and position of ECOWAS in resolving the crisis.
Rather, he added, President Mills thought it better that it would not be safe and economically sound for the country if there was civil war in Cote d’Ivoire since it could spill over to destabilize the prevailing economic and social progress in Ghana.
Mr. Opoku was addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Asibirem at the inauguration of a grader acquired by the district assembly at the cost of GHC 350,000.00.
The cost would be deducted at source from the District Assembly Common Fund by instalments.
The Deputy Regional Minster said the country had vital economic investment installations such as the Jubilee Oil Field at Cape Three Points, which is very close to the territorial waters of
Cote d’Ivoire and it would not be wise to engage in any military operation there.
Mr. Opoku said investment in the Jubilee Oil Field involved very huge financial capital and must therefore be protected at all cost hence the country could not risk any situation of civil war
right across its western border.
Mr Opoku said the acquisition of the grader was to help improve the economic and social well-being of the people as it would be used among other purposes to reshape feeder roads in the area to facilitate the carting of farm produce to marketing centres.
The Deputy Regional Minster cautioned that the use of the equipment should not be politicized but must be available for use by all groups and individuals, irrespective of their political affiliation, social orientation and ethnic background provided the hiring conditions were duly met.
Mr. Opoku announced that plans were underway to upgrade the only second cycle institution in the district, Kukuom Agricultural Senior High School, to a model status.
Contract has been awarded for the construction of a two-storey dormitory block whilst a one-kilometre road network in the school will be tarred to brighten the landscape of school, he said.
Nana Kofi Dum, the chief of the village, commended the government for the construction of six-unit classroom block valued at about GHC150.000.00 for the cluster of villages in the
area and also appealed for the provision of more social amenities, especially boreholes.