Minister stresses determination to eradicate poverty

Cape Coast, Nov. 11, GNA - The Central Regional Minister, Ama Benyiwa Doe, on Wednesday said the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM) would work hard to expand the basic parameters of its operations to facilitate the development of the region.

She said the Commission, which is the technical wing of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC), was set up with the main aim of promoting tourism and enterprise development and would give a boost to the various facets of the economy to ensure integrated growth of the region which is "poverty endemic".

Mrs Benyiwa Doe, who stated these at the inauguration of a re-constituted 15-member board of the Commission of which she is the chairperson, said the work of the Commission was very vital to the growth of the region and that its members would use their expertise to help harness all available resources to create jobs for the people. Ms. Hanna Tetteh, Minister of Trade and Industry who inaugurated the board, also underscored the commission's role in the socio-economic development of the region and noted that it was through its ingenuity that the Cape Coast and Elmina castles were declared "World heritage sites." She expressed the hope that it would work hard towards the transformation of the region which is among the poorest in the country and pledged her ministry's support to the Commission to ensure the total development in the region. Nana Sam Brew-Butler, a member of the Commission, gave the assurance that he and his colleagues would strive hard to bring about the needed development in the region. "We are not taking this office for the pleasure of it", he said, adding that they would work hard to justify the confidence reposed in them. 11 Nov 09