The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, has pledged to focus priority on getting construction works on the Asokore-Mampong affordable housing project completed.

He said he was also eager to see the job finished on the 900-bed capacity Maternity and Children’s Block for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), started about 43 years ago.

He was sharing his development vision for the region with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Kumasi.

Mr. Osei-Mensah gave the assurance that other on-going projects including the Krofom market and the regional hospital, would continue.

“The situation where development projects are left to rot - state resources allowed to go down the drain, simply must end.”

He indicated that the region had enormous economic potential that needed to be harnessed to create wealth and employment for the people.

He cited its rich culture, tourist attraction sites and fertile agriculture lands and said they would push aggressively to woo investors into these areas.

As part of this drive, they were going to set up, what he called the “Ashanti Business and Investment Forum”.

He said it would serve as a vital platform for exchange of information, experiences and networking among local businesses and foreign investors to expand their operations.

Mr. Osei-Mensah spoke of his determination to work closely with the chiefs and deepen their involvement in efforts to transform the living conditions of the people.

He said chiefs as agents of development would be engaged on how to market the unique cultural heritage of the region and its resources.

He also touched on environmental sanitation and announced plans to keep the communities clean through strict enforcement of bye laws enacted by the metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

He served notice of the introduction of spot-fine for littering to discourage people from doing the wrong things.

He called for strong support and invited everybody to find space to contribute to the socio-economic progress of the region.