Stephen Asamoah Boateng, Minister of Local Government, Rural Development and Environment (MLGRDE), has decried the poor road network linking Tamale and some district capitals in the Northern Region. He said some roads in the Region, particularly the Fufulso-Damongo-Sawla road had been neglected for a very long time and that something needed to be done immediately to facilitate the easy movement of people, goods and services in the area. The Minister expressed the sentiment when he interacted with assembly members and some staff of the West Gonja District Assembly at Damongo on Tuesday, May 29, 2007. The visit to the District formed part of the Minister's five-day official tour to the Northern Region to inspect progress of projects under his ministry and to observe the performance of the district assemblies in the Region. Mr Asamoah Boateng said government was mindful of the need to upgrade infrastructure including the road networks and that everything possible would be done to ensure that the Fufulso-Damongo road was given the necessary attention. "I passed through the road twice this week and observed its poor nature. I have already spoken to the Deputy Minister of Roads and Transport to give the road the necessary attention that it deserves", he said. Mr Asamoah Boateng advised metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives to be humble in their daily activities within the communities to win the confidence of the people and to foster unity for speedy development. He said a proposal would be forwarded to Cabinet to consider reducing the numbers of the Unit Committee members from 15 to 7 to see if assistance could be given to them as motivation to carry out their duties more efficiently. On assembly members, the Minister said the ministry was considering to provide them with motorbikes in the form of loans to facilitate their work. The Minister inspected a number of projects being undertaken by the District Assembly. He also visited the Tolon/Kumbungu District Assembly where he inspected some projects and urged members of the Assembly to remain united to pursue the area's development agenda. Source: GNA