Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - Mr Joseph Amenowode, Minister-nominee for Volta Region on Friday told the Parliamentary Appointments Committee that he would tackle poverty in the Region through the establishment of small-scale businesses to provide employment for the youth in the area. He said the youth would be encouraged to undertake grass-cutter farming, bee-keeping, and agro-processing to improve their living standards.

Mr Amenowode said existing industries such as Juapong Textiles, Aveyime Rice Project and Diamond Cement Factory would be assisted to serve as avenues for employment creation. He said developing the tourism sector would also be an area of focus when he gets Parliamentary approval to serve the Region. Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, Minister-nominee for Western Region, told the committee that the Region was well resourced in terms of cocoa, timber and manganese but had had very little in terms of benefiting from the national cake.

He said the Region had to contend with lots of challenges including deplorable roads therefore, it was time to pay attention to developing the area. Mr Aidoo said he would work together with Members of Parliament in the Region, chiefs and other stakeholders to draw up a development plan. 13 Feb. 09