Minister Calls For The Decentralisation Of Population Council's Activities

Kumasi,(Ashanti Region) 23, Sept. Mr Daniel Ohene Agyekum, Ashanti Regional Minister, has called for the decentralization of activities of the National Population Council (NPC). This is to ensure the full integration of population factors into development planning at the district level. Opening a seminar on population and development for policy makers in Ashanti today, Mr Agyekum said it was time the high tendency of under-estimating the impact of population on planning was stopped. The seminar was attended by District Chief Executives, District Coordinating Directors, Officials from the Ghana Education Service, Ministry of Health, the Department of Social Welfare, the National Commission on Culture and the National Youth Council. The aim was to help create the needed awareness of the participants on population issues. Mr Agyekum stressed the direct correlation between population growth and economic development. He was unhappy therefore with the country's annual population growth rate of between 2.9 per cent and 3.1 per cent. gri