Poverty reduction is on my mind-Arthur

Accra, May 31, GNA - Nana Ato Arthur, Central Regional Minister-designate on Wednesday said he would seek to reduce significantly the incidence of poverty in the Central Region. He said the industries that provided employment some 10 to 15 years ago have all broken down but "we have to work to raise the living standard of the people".

Nana Arthur had appeared before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee in Parliament House, Accra.

He said he would want to see the people in the region more united to "lift the region to where it belongs".

The Minister-designate identified heritage tourism as a potent instrument for developing the economy of the region. Nana Arthur said the region abounds in forts and castles and relics that would attract any tourist, seeking pleasure and history of Ghana. He said he enjoyed working with his former boss, Mr Isaac Edumadze. Earlier in the day, Mr Kwadwo Adjei-Darko, Minister at the Presidency-designate appeared before the committee.

He told the committee that the President and the Chief of Staff would assign his duties and responsibilities to him from time to time. On chieftaincy, he said its importance in the political; social and economic development of the country was very crucial and called for the necessary steps to make it a reality.

Mrs Florence Oboshie Sai-Coffie, Deputy Minister-designate for Information and National Orientation, said with teamwork all government functionaries tasked with the dissemination of information would deliver as expected.

Mr Freddie Blay had asked her whether there could be conflict between the Ministry and the Press Secretary of the Presidency, as their roles may overlap.

When asked by Dr Benjamin Kumbuor, if she would use the Ministry as propaganda machinery for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), she said: "I would focus on government policies and programmes." Mrs Oboshie Sai-Coffie was one of the brains behind the NPP's 2000 election campaign, which brought the party to power for the first time. 31 May 06