Vice President John Dramani Mahama, at the weekend said that government was focused and has mapped out strategies to transform the country's economy to ensure qualitative improvement in the standards of living of the people.
He debunked impressions by some people that government's machinery was "too slow" in addressing myriad of challenges confronting the country.
Vice President Mahama said this in an address read on his behalf by Mr Ford Kamel,Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources at the 61st SASADU festival at Alavanyo-Kpeme in Hohoe Municipality.
SASADU, comprised four traditional areas namely; Saviefe, Akrofu, Sovie and Alavanyo,
bonded by common ancestry, cultural and historical antecedents, who hitherto migrated from Notsie in the Republic of Togo to their present location due to the cruelty of King Agorkoli,who ruled over that empire.
Vice President Mahama said government's roadmap to ensure delivery of its electoral
promises by the end of its four-year term, was resolutely on course.
He demanded absolute support and co-operation from Ghanaians towards the implementation of its policies, programmes and projects.
Vice President Mahama said that government was strategizing to repair roads throughout
the country.
He said an African Development Bank funding has been secured for the reconstruction of
the Asikuma-Hohoe-Damanko road.
Vice President Mahama said good roads provided stress-free and comfortable travels and
also enhanced the economy, opened up the country and reduced travel time.
He announced that government was exploring measures to address unemployment and hoped that by the end of next year, 30,000 new jobs would be created nationwide through a plantation project in 100 out of the 170 districts.
Vice President Mahama appealed to traditional authorities to take inventory of land and make it available for the take-off of the project, which would have benefit sharing arrangement.
He said recent increase in the producer price of cocoa by 35.9 percent over the previous price and the establishment of social security fund for cocoa farmers, with seed money of GHc 15 million was part of government's programme to improve the living condition of farmers.
Vice President Mahama said 1.6 million school uniforms would be produced locally under the free school uniform package adding that dressmakers would benefit from the initiative.
He commended the chiefs, queens and people of SASADU for upholding,rekindling and strengthening their common bonds of ethnicity and cultural ties for development.
Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister praised the people of Alavanyo and Nkonya for fostering unity between them, which he said was a panacea for socio-economic development.
He reminded the people that the "Better Ghana" and investing in the people agenda of
government was non-negotiable,The Minister urged the youth to take advantages of the youth in
agriculture programme and other interventions to become self-reliant.
Togbega Tsedze Atakora VII, Paramount Chief of Alavanyo Traditional Area, noted that the area has suffered deprivation resulting from the over 80-year-old conflict and now that there was peace, "there would not be excuses to deny us the share of the national cake".
He said work has stalled on the road network from Wegbe-Alavanyo-Nkonya Nchumuru,christened the 'Jubilee road", which was affecting economic activities in the area and appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills tackle the problem.
Mamaga Akosua I, Development Queen of SASADU, said her development activities inhealth, education and income generation would be extended to Saviefe and Sovie.
Mr William Segbedeku, General Secretary of SASADU, called on government to rehabilitate roads and schools in the area.