Saltpond (C/R), Dec. 28, GNA - A Member of Council of State, Mr Ato Essuman has called on the people of the Central Region to work hard to fight poverty, which has made the area to be rated among the poor regions of the country.

In a Christmas and New Year Message issued by Mr Essuman at Saltpond, the region's representative on the Council of State expressed concern over why the area should be counted among the poor regions despite the numerous human and natural resources the region was endowed with.

"Most of the best educational institutions in the country are in the region, we have minerals, cocoa, timber, oil palm, citrus, pineapples, arable land for production of food crops and good beaches for promoting tourism."

"The road network is not bad and all our major towns have been connected to the national electricity grid", he stated and asked "what then do we need to come out of poverty"?

Mr Essuman, who is also the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education Science and Sports charged metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies in the region, the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) and traditional authorities to collaborate efforts to harness resources to improve conditions of living in the region.

"All untapped resources should be unearthed and tapped", he stressed, adding that he was prepared to lead the crusade to bring the region out of poverty.

The Council of State Member however, cautioned that the people should be made to understand that it needed hard work, dedication and commitment to come out of their present predicament. "We need also to sensitise the people on the management of resources, including the use of time,"

Mr. Essuman stressed, adding, "if we enter the new year with all these values, we will succeed in getting out of poverty and realise the joy and prosperity of the new year and the years ahead. 28 Dec. 07