The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Kwasi Akyem Apea-Kubi, has stated that the ability of the government to provide numerous social amenities and initiate poverty alleviation programmes in the region within three years has given meaning to its “Better Ghana Agenda.” He said facilities like markets, roads, clinics, boreholes, school buildings and other initiatives such as the capitation grant; free school uniforms, exercise books and meals for pupils as well as the health insurance scheme had tremendously improved the living conditions of the people. Dr Apea-Kubi also stated that 20 modules of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) had engaged a number of unemployed in the region and called on the people to give the government the necessary support to enable them to improve their lot. The Eastern Regional Minister made the statement when he addressed a colorful durbar of the chiefs and people of Akuapem to mark their Odwira Festival at Akropong at the weekend. It was attended by a number of dignitaries such as the Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, members of the Diplomatic Corps, municipal and district chief executives and some parliamentarians from both sides of the House. “The Mills Administration’s “Better Ghana Agenda” is not a mere slogan but a commitment of the government to provide social amenities and poverty alleviation programmes which has almost been fulfilled and very soon every community will be covered in terms of social amenities,” Dr Apea-Kubi stated. On discipline, the Regional Minister praised the people of the area whom he said had been imbued with the proverbial Presbyterian discipline and asked the chiefs to help stamp out all sorts of anti-social vices from the society. He also told the gathering that armed security men would now be on board long distant vehicles to keep armed robbers at bay. With regard to land and chieftaincy disputes in the area, Dr Apea-Kubi expressed the hope that solutions to such problems would be found to reunite the people in the traditional area. On the activities of illegal miners, popularly known as gallamsey, the Regional Minister said although the Akuapem area had not been affected, it was possible that some of its citizens might have been involved in such activities in other areas of the region and advised against it. Earlier, the Omanhene of Akuapem, Oseadeoyo Addo Dankwa Ill, in an address read on his behalf by the Gyasehene of Akropong, Nana Asamani Kwatia III, traced the history of the Odwira Festival, which was introduced in 1826 by Nana Addo Dankwa I. The Okuapehene spoke on the theme: “the Need for moral Restoration in Ghana” and said although Akuapems had over the years been disciplined because of the Presbyterian training they had, such good behaviour was gradually giving way to all sorts of indiscipline and appealed to his sub chiefs, religious leaders and the government to help reverse the trend. Oseadeoyo Addo Danquah was hopeful that next year’s elections would be conducted in a peaceful manner to further advance the country’s democracy.