Sunyani, Nov. 2, GNA - Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, has appealed to people of the region to rekindle their sense of unity and tenacity of purpose to quicken the pace of development. "With togetherness we will be able to propel the socio-economic development of the region to greater heights to reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of our people", he said at the congress of Brong-Ahafo citizens in Sunyani.

The congress was organised by the Regional House of Chiefs and the Regional Coordinating Council and it formed part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the region. Brong-Ahafo Region, formerly known as Western Ashanti, was created by late President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the April 4 1959. Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the region had come of age and there was the compelling need for its chiefs and people to demonstrate unity of purpose and tackle the diverse problems that retard its development. "I wish to state that there is the need not only to give a befitting commemoration to this moment in our history in order to remember our past heroes and heroines but also to reflect on their good works to serve as a guide and unifying force in our determination and forward march into the future as we enjoy the fruits of our stand as a region", he said. Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo said the region, after its creation, had witnessed tremendous improvement in physical infrastructural and human resource development, which hitherto had been lacking.

He said there was the need for all and sundry to assist in exploiting its strengths and opportunities for the benefit of posterity. Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo mentioned inadequate housing, increase in criminal activities, illegal activities of chainsaw operators, high increase in the illegal activities of small scale miners and indiscriminate and uncontrolled bush fires as some of the major challenges that faced the region. Mrs. Lucy Acheampong, an educationist and a lecturer at the Catholic University at Fiapre, said "education is indispensable to development" and appealed to parents to ensure that their children attained quality education.

"This can be done if you channel much of your resources into the education of your children", she said. Mrs. Acheampong reiterated the need to re-plan, restructure and re-strategize educational goals and objectives to help the region to obtain its human resource base for development.

"To move forward in the 21st century for quality education in our region let us mobilize ourselves massively for a collective participation towards this goal", she said.

Nana Kwadwo Nyarko, Omanhene of Prang and Chairman of the Planning Committee of Brong-Ahafo @ 50 Committee said the region was not created on a silver platter and appealed to the people to assist in its development. "Lack of development led to the creation of the region so its celebration is geared towards development", he said. Nana Nyarko appealed to the people to unite, bury their differences and work hard towards the development of the region. 02 Nov 09