Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah
The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has said that chieftaincy disputes in the region continue to be the greatest impediment to the development of the area.
He also mentioned illegal mining activities or ‘galamsey’, poor road network, youth unemployment, poor liquid and solid waste management, and abandoned projects as some of the other challenges facing the region.
He, however, indicated the Western Regional Coordinating Council (WRCC) remain committed to collaborating with state and non-state actors to help address the challenges.
The regional minister disclosed this at the WRCC meeting held in Takoradi.
The minister said they have an agenda to unlock the investment potential in the region in order to create wealth and job opportunities for the teeming youth.
He said in October, there will be a Western Regional Youth Summit to take the youth through hands-on training programmes that will equip them to be masters of their own vocations.
He indicated that, the WRCC together with the Ghana Education Service (GES) will come out with modalities aimed at inculcating entrepreneurial spirits in schools right from the basic to secondary levels.
He said this would help prepare the students for the world of work and make them competitive anywhere.
He pointed out that the region continues to enjoy relative peace as the REGSEC meet from time to time to review the security situation in the area.
“Following some reported armed robbery incidents, especially at Takoradi Amanful where one person was shot and killed, security patrols were consequently intensified and police visibility enhanced,” the minister said.
“These combination of measures have resulted in peace the region is enjoying. We will need the cooperation from all and sundry to decisively and proactively deal with crime,” he added.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi