Regional Minister promises to lift Central Region from poverty

Mr. Samuel Sarpong, Central Regional Minister, on Friday said he would help to remove once and for all the negative perception  that region is poor.

The Minister said if the numerous natural resources and tourism potentials of the region were well harnessed and developed, the area would have been one of the richest in the country.

Mr. Sarpong said these when he met about journalists  to officially announce his assumption of duty as regional minister, and to outline his vision  for the region.

He said he would ensure that that region benefited from the national cake, and gave the assurance that everything would be done to complete all on-going development projects in the region, particularly the construction of the new Kotokuraba market complex and sports stadium.

According to Mr. Sarpong all the equipment and materials needed for the stadium project were currently at the Tema Port yet to be conveyed to the region.

The minister said he would closely work with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region to find out their achievements and challenges to help him come out with the appropriate solutions to problems.

Mr. Sarpong said he would visit defunct industries and factories such as the Komenda Sugar Factory, Saltpond Ceramics, Pomadze Poultry, Asebu Fruits and Flavors as well as the salt industry towards the revamping of some of them.

Touching on the tourism potentials of the region, he said as a first step to attract more tourists to sites like the Cape Coast Castle, city guards have been posted there to be on a 24-hour guard to prevent people from indiscriminately defecating along the beaches and harassing tourists, who patronize the facility.

He said the necessary facilities would also be provided at the Kakum National Park to attract more tourists, and gave the assurance that the region would see a lot development under the NDC government.

Mr. Sarpong said he has immediately engaged a contractor to work on the lighting system in Cape Coast.

He asked the media to support the Regional Coordinating Council and to cross-check facts before coming out with reports.

Mr. David Yarboi –Tetteh,   Vice President of the Central Regional branch of the Ghana Journalists Association, thanked Mr. Sarpong for informing the media about his vision, and pledged that journalists in the region would cooperate with him towards the development of the area.

Present at the meeting, which was attended by more than 30 journalists from both the public and private media houses, were the Deputy Regional Minister, Ms Queenstar Pokuawaa Sawyer, the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC, Mr. Edu Yeboah, acting Regional Coordinating Director, Mr. Opare Duncan, and the Chief Executive of the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly, Mr. Anthony Egyir Arkins as well as NDC party supporters.

Source: GNA