The president John Evans Atta Mills has reiterated proper procedures will be followed in holding former government officials accountable for their stewardship. He was addressing chiefs and people of Mamprusi in the Upper East Region as part of a four-day official visit to the region. Some members of the former government including ex-Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, and ex-Foreign Minister Akwasi Osei Adjei have been penciled for prosecution for various acts of misconduct. But the decision has provoked tension with the opposition which is alleging political victimisation and persecution. “The fact that a government has been booted out of office does not excuse them from accounting to the people,” the president said, adding that members of his government are not excluded from the principle of accountability. He took a swipe at the erstwhile New Patriotic Party who he said were putting undue pressure on the government. “People who stayed in power for eight years are putting pressure on us to provide everything in four months.” The president promised the people of the Upper East Region a sustained development and an improvement in the standards of living of the people. As part of measures to develop agriculture in the region, the president promised to subsidise prices of fertilisers for the farmers, as well as provide machines and other equipments for mechanized farming. He also promised to open up access roads to the Upper East Region. The president early on in the day paid courtesy calls on party executives as well as DCE’s in the region. He is expected in the Upper West on Friday, 29th May, 2009. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline