President John Evans Attah Mills, on Saturday said though the country was facing challenges, he had a competent team that could help solve the problems to move the nation forward.

He, therefore, asked Ghanaians to be patient with his government and ensure unity and love adding that "There is nothing the nation cannot achieve".

President Mills was speaking a durbar of Paramount chiefs and people of the Eastern Region in Koforidua, as part of his three-day visit to the region.

He urged the people not to be discouraged but have faith in his government since he had a team that was determined to fulfill all electoral promises made to them.

President Mills said government would not be deterred by criticisms but would move ahead in the right direction and showcase Ghana as a model of Africa.

He said government would demonstrate an open and transparent administration and warned that anybody who would abuse responsibility entrusted to him or her would have himself or herself to blame.

The Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Asuming Ahinsan said the Ministry had started documentation of chieftaincy succession in all traditional areas of the country to help reduce chieftaincy disputes to the barest minimum.

Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, said government had started pilot projects to encourage district assemblies to acquire their own graders to enable them effectively manage feeder roads in their areas.

He said so far eight districts out of the 21 districts in the region had acquired a grader each at the cost of GHC 120,000.00.

Mr Ampofo said the Koforidua Water project would be expanded to cover Maase, Kukurantumi and Tafo in the East Akyem Municipality adding that the government had started small town water projects in some districts to provide the people with potable water.

President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, advocated the holding of regular forum to engage government with traditional authorities to enable them to contributions to governance.

He called for the deepening of the decentralization process and the election of District Chief Executives to avoid the situation where the people were often reduced to observers in local governance.

GNA