Central Region - Poorest Region In Ghana

A World Bank report has indicated that poverty had increased in the Central region but declined in the Western, Greater Accra, Volta, Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. Mr Richmond Sam Quarm, MP for Gomoa East, announced this when he joined the Chiefs and the people of Gomoa Ekwamkrom, near Agona Swedru to celebrate their annual Akwambo festival.

He said the report published in 2002 stated that poverty in the Central region especially the Gomoa District was a reflection of the "worsening welfare situation" of female-headed households. Mr Quram stressed that the report also indicated that even in the Eastern region where poverty had fallen slightly, female poverty had increased

According to the MP the data indicated that women were still vulnerable and often the primary victims of poverty.

Mr Quarm attributed the poverty facing the people in the district to lack of formal education and asked parents to send their children to school.

He also identified land disputes and litigation as part of the problem and urged the youth to do away with negative tendencies, which retard development.

He MP appealed to the chiefs, unit committees, School Management Committees, opinion Leaders and other stakeholders to launch a programme to educate parents and guardians on the need to educate their children and wards to the highest level to reduce the abject poverty. Mr David Foster Forson, Director of Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM), on behalf of the Regional Minister, Mr Isaac Edumadze, called on Chiefs and land owners to create land banks to attract investors.

He said many investors were prepared to do business in the region but were discouraged because of land disputes.

Mr Forson called on them to settle land disputes to ensure peace and stability.

He also asked the people to embrace the President's Special Initiative on Cassava to create jobs and wealth.

They should also support the bio-diesel project, which had been established at Gomoa Pomadze to improve their living standard and urged Chiefs to release land for "Physic Trees" popularly known as "Adaadze" plantations to feed the factory.

He cautioned the people to refrain from building haphazardly in the district, adding that, such acts could lead to a disaster in the future. Nana Ekwam IX, Chief of the town expressed his displeasure about the poor attendance of the festival by citizens from the area and asked them to change their attitude towards development.

He appealed to the government to construct bridge over River Akora to facilitate the movement of people and goods.

Nana Ekwam also called for the provision of school infrastructure in the area and the establishment of a vocational school to train the youth.

PIC: Regional Minister Mr. Isaac Edumadze