MP FOR LAWRA OPENS OFFICE (PAGE 15)

THE Member of Parliament (MP) for the Lawra-Nandom Constituency in the Upper West Region, Mr Ambrose Dery, has established an office at Lawra, the district capital, to bridge the communication gap between himself and the constituents.
Known as the “Office of the Member of Parliament”, the well-furnished, airconditioned office which is the first of its kind in the region has a computer, television set, fridge and telephone.
It is manned by a retired Warrant Officer, WO1 Adams Ankyere, and is opened from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. from Monday to Friday.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic at the office at Lawra, Mr Dery said the development of the constituency was his major priority and appealed to the people not to politicise the office but to see it as their own office.
“This office is meant to create an enabling platform for the constituents to be able to reach me with their concerns and other suggestions as far as the development of the constituency is concerned” he explained.
Mr Dery also urged his constituents to regularly visit the office and offer suggestions as he was ever ready to work in consonance with them.
 “As the member of parliament, there is the need to know the views of the people so that I can advocate for them”, he said and mentioned the needs of women’s groups and children as very dear to his heart.
Highlighting some of his priority areas, Mr Dery, who is also the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, explained that he would use part of his share of the Common Fund to support needy, brilliant students from the constituency.
He further indicated his preparedness to institute measures which would encourage parents to send their children, especially the females to school, adding “I will also work to sensitise people to negative cultural practices such as widowhood rites and female genital mutilation.”
On the reduction of under-five mortality, which is high in the region, Mr Dery hinted that he would encourage the construction of more Community Health Planning Services (CHPS) compounds in various communities to make health facilities easily accessible to the people.
 “I will also liaise with NGOs to organise women into income generating ventures as well as help improve the water supply situation in the constituency with the construction of more boreholes”, he said.
On roads, Mr Dery called on the government to expedite work on the Nadowli-Hamile road to facilitate the movement of foodstuffs from the area.
Commenting on how he could achieve this vision, the deputy minority leader, pledged his support for the newly confirmed Lawra District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Samson Abu, as long as he worked to bring development to the area and to the people.