He explained that one of the cardinal reasons behind President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to create new districts was to ensure that development reached the doorstep of every Ghanaian. He, therefore, urged the assembly to help realise that vision.

Mr Dapaah, a native of Boamang, the district capital, and former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, made the call during the inauguration of the Afigya Kwabre North District at Boamang in the Ashanti Region.

Afigya Kwabre North was carved out of Afigya Kwabre District. It has 22 assembly members, with Mr Karikari Achamfuor as the District Chief Executive (DCE).

Mr Kan Dapaah noted that the prayers and efforts of all the people inthe area, especially the MP and DCE, had culminated in the creation of the district and that all those yearnings were to ensure that development would be accelerated.

He said the new district had placed an onerous task on the assembly members and the DCE to facilitate the pace of development evenly.

He urged the DCE not to abandon or disrespect the chiefs but always be in constant touch with them and seek their input for a successful development of the area.

President’s speech

Reading the President’s speech, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, said the government was offering a new approach to doing things to drive the agenda for change, growth, job creation and prosperity for all.

The agenda, he explained, would certainly be fulfilled if the government brought governance to the doorsteps of the people to ensure effective and efficient decentralisation through grassroots participation, better planning and improved service delivery in the local communities.

He said the assemblies were the focal areas for the government’s rural and urban development agenda, which included the provision of better opportunities for poverty reduction and enhancement of quality life, using agricultural regeneration and industrialisation, as well as urban renewal programmes with emphasis on development and maintenance of urban infrastructure.

100 acres

Mr Achamfuor, said the creation of the new district was not only a fulfilment of their dream but it had created a space and a huge opportunity for the people in the area to be architects of their own development.

He announced that the chiefs in the area had given out 100 acres of land to the assembly for the construction of permanent offices and accommodation for staff and described the gesture as a commitment of the chiefs to assist the assembly to realise its vision.