Minister calls for strategic investors to C/R

Cape Coast, April 26, GNA- The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, has called on local and foreign investors to invest in the tourism and other strategic sectors to create wealth and jobs for the people in the region.

He said the Region is the heart of tourism in the country and urged the investors, especially foreign ones to come and invest in other companies that had collapsed.

Nana Ato Arthur made the call when a 10-member medical team from Germany paid a courtesy call on him at his residence in Cape Coast. The team, made up of five surgeons and five nurses from interplast in Germany, were led by. Mr Ben Mensah, District Chief Executive for Agona, Mr Joe Appeah, Management Consultant based in Accra, Mr Eric Bediako Oppong, District Co-ordinating Director for Agona and Ms Abena Rose Boateng, Director of interplast Ghana.

Nana Ato Arthur said factories and companies in the region collapsed about two decades ago, and asked the team to look for potential investors to come and start reviving them.

He said when factories such as the Pomadze Poultry Enterprise, Saltpond Ceramics, Komenda sugar factory and others are revived they would create job opportunities for the youth in the area and help reduce poverty levels.

The Regional Minister said, due to the collapse of these factories and companies, the region has been added to the four poorest regions in the country.

He commended Mr Joe Appeah and Ms Abena Rose Boateng who brought the team to Agona District to perform surgeries on various ailments free of charge to over 150 patients.

He suggested to the team to come every year and also increase their number so that the programme could be expanded to Cape Coast, Asikuma Catholic and Winneba hospitals.

He assured the doctors that the Regional Coordinating Council would provide the necessary assistance to the host districts to enable them to enjoy their stay in Ghana.

Mr Appeah said 40 million cedis has been raised to cater for post surgery patients, especially for children of poor parents who needed extra health care.

He stated that out of the 40 million cedis, Nana Ato Arthur personally paid 10 million cedis, whilst Mrs Appiah Agyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Chief Executive and others contributed the rest. Mr Appeah urged the District Assemblies to make proper pre-planning of the programmes so that more funds could be raised to make it succeed.

Mr Ben Mensah said the doctors' visit to Agona District has benefited many people, both in and outside the district to receive medical care free of charge.

He thanked the Regional Minister, Mr Joe Appeah and others who made it possible for a successful duty tour of the team and said arrangements were being made to bring another team of doctors from Korle Bu Teaching Hospital to Agona after the departure of their Germany counterparts. Ms Boateng urged the members of the Ghana Medical Association in the Central Region to work in closer relationship with their counterparts in other regions in order to exchange ideas and experiences. The team visited the Kakum National Park and Cape Coast Castle.