Western Region is endowed yet poor-Regional Minister.

Takoradi, July 29, GNA - Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, the Western Regional Minister, has said though the region is endowed with lots of natural resources and therefore holds the key to the economic breakthrough of the country, it lacks behind in terms of socio-economic infrastructure. "Regrettably, our endowment is in sharp contrast to our level of development," he said.

Mr Aidoo said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Western Region at Takoradi in honour of President John Atta Mills who is visiting the region.

Mr. Aidoo said governments had not done much in terms of infrastructure development to improve the lot of the people in the region.

He said roads in some parts of the region needed urgent rehabilitation, adding "the railway lines which should ease the pressure on the roads have been in a 'coma' due to persistent neglect." "Our health facilities need upgrading as the Effia Nkwanta Hospital, the only regional and referral hospital, is too crowded and a far cry from a regional hospital while Mpohor Wassa West has no district hospital," he said.

Mr. Aidoo said the region deserved a fair share of the national cake and the humble appeal is for these facilities to be upgraded. Dr George Sipa Yankey, the Minister of Health, said government would upgrade the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital as well as the construction of districts hospitals across the region.

"The health of the people is the wealth of the nation and their health is of prime importance to the government," he said.

Mr Joe Gidisu, Minister of Roads and Highways, said the government had made available over 6.6million cedis for the rehabilitation and construction of feeder and trunk roads which include the Agona-Elubo road.

Nana Kofi Abuna V, Chief of Essipon, called for a stronger collaboration between government and traditional leaders for planning the development of the region.

He appealed to the oil companies to set up a development fund to help the youth and people of the region in the area of education to enable them to play effective roles in the oil industry as well as the development of the region. 29 July 09