Conference of Regional Ministers opens

Koforidua, June 20 GNA - Nana Narh Dawutey Ologo VI, Konor of Yilo Krobo and Member of the Council of State on Monday opened the 16th Conference of Regional Ministers.

The four-day conference would provide a forum for them to examine and discuss common problems confronting the regions and exchange ideas on their solutions. It would also afford them the opportunity to interact with sector ministers on topical national issues.

Some Ministers of State would address the conference on topics including the state of the economy, decentralisation policy, labour and the implementation of the Ghana Universal Salary Structure (GUSS), HIV/AIDS and the increasing crime rate.

In a keynote address, Nene Ologo said there was the need for effective strategies and plans to ensure peace, security and understanding among Ghanaians for the pursuit of the country's development and for successful campaign and elections. He mentioned chieftaincy disputes and environmental degradation as areas that must engage their attention.

Nene Ologo expressed regret that while the government and the regional co-ordinating councils (RCC) were doing their best to promote peace and security for accelerated economic growth and social development, protracted chieftaincy disputes in many parts of the country run counter to the efforts being made.

He noted that some of the disputes degenerate into violence and divide the people and divert attention from developmental issues thus affecting both local and foreign investment. Traditional Councils and Houses of Chiefs should resolve with dispatch cases pending before them and set up suitable strategies for preventing them from disturbing the peace in the communities Nene Ologo expressed concern about the system of land use and the consequence of environmental degradation in the Eastern Region, which he described as alarming.

He noted that despite several years of public education, destructive and illegal surface diamond and gold mining still goes on and cited the Akwatia area, where diamond mining goes on around dwelling houses, school premises, royal cemeteries, along railway lines and the basement of high-tension electricity transmission pylons.

The Paramount chief called on district assemblies to establish early warning systems to enable them to prevent unauthorised development especially construction in drainage courses and not wait for the structures to spring up before demolishing them.

The Eastern Regional Minister, Miss Patience Adow, welcoming her colleagues, said the conference would take a critical look at the negative effects of the unfavourable world economic order on the country's economy and send inputs for a coherent policy to be evolved.

She said the government, in keeping faith with the people, had pledged to improve their living standards and was convinced that the objectives would be attained through dedication and commitment in line with the Vision 2020 Document.

The New Juabenmanhene, Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, who chaired the opening function, emphasised the need for ensuring constant dialogue between regional ministers and traditional rulers to strengthen cordial relationship in view of their mutual objective of peace for national development.

He called for the empowerment of chiefs to curb the incidence of criminal activities and appealed for peaceful electioneering campaign by the political parties.