Groups and organizations call on Regional Minister

Koforidua, March 17, GNA - Some groups and organizations in the Eastern Region on Tuesday paid courtesy calls on the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, to welcome and to discuss matters of concern with him.

The groups included the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), The Regional Council of Muslim Chiefs, Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) and the Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The first to meet the minister was the Regional Council of the Muslim Chiefs led by the Chief Imam, Alhaji Ahmudani Alhassan. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo appealed to the council to use its influence to promote education amongst the youth in their communities. He told them that the only way to raise the standard of the Zongo communities was through higher education and appealed to the chiefs to take advantage of the many scholarships available for Muslim education. The Minister said the Zongo communities that had become a hub where their youth were recruited as tools for all sorts of unacceptable behavior must change and suggested to the chiefs to establish an education resource centre in all their communities to make education accessible to the youth.

The Regional Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr James Cudjoe, enumerated some problems facing the union and said the operation of the Metro Mass Transport was hampering their business. He appealed to the minister to intervene to ensure that private transport business did not collapse. Mr Cudjoe said another challenge facing them was the springing up of a lot of transport unions creating indiscipline in the system. Responding, Mr Ofosu-Ampofo, said the Metro-Mass Service was providing an essential social service like the free ride for school children and the elderly, which he described as an important complement of the government's education plans.

For that, he said, the Metro-Mass Operation could not be stopped but rather measures would be put in place to ensure that their activities do not hamper the private sector transport had been reliable. He called for the re-introduction of Union Guards to instil discipline and professionalism in the driving profession. Students of Koforidua Polytechnic, the All Nations University and the Nurses Training School branches of the TEIN who called on the minister also congratulated him and expressed the hope that he would work in line with the NDC manifesto. Mr Ofosu-Ampofo said the nomination of about 40 young men and women as ministers and deputy ministers of state was an affirmation of the President's pledge to harness the potential of the youth to contribute to national development. The regional minister advised them to take a cue from the proceedings at the vetting committee and aspire for higher educational laurels. He urged them to be mindful of their reputation so that in future when they are nominated for public positions they would not be found wanting. 17 March 09