The Western Regional Minister, Dr Kwaku Afriyie, has said the creation of the Western North Region is a big boost for the road infrastructure and a major catalyst for the development of the country.
He said, the transformation of the road infrastructure would not only open the region, but, enable the government to tap the full potentials and dividends of the area.
“The road infrastructure in the Western North is going to be a major driver of Ghana’s economy, especially the region being a potential cocoa growing area.” Dr Afriyie said, in an interview with the Ghanaian Times on a wider range of issue concerning the creation of the Western North.
He stressed that “Articulator- trucks loads of cocoa create wear and tear on our roads and this affects our balance of payment position. We will rehabilitate the Western North roads so that our economy will grow and generate more money even for social interventions in other regions.”
According to Dr Afriyie, roads, including Benchemaa junction to Osei Kojokrom, Elubo-Enchi, Akontombra, through Asawinso and Boako, linking Sankore in Ahafo and Sunyani, in Bono, and Lawra and Hamile in the Upper West Region needed to be given attention.
He said the railway sector would also be transformed to facilitate the transportation of bauxite and cocoa to the Takoradi Port for export to generate more revenue.
The Western Regional Minister mentioned that the GH¢20 million seed money for each of the newly created region would help tackle developmental needs of the people.
Dr Afriyie, who has been given oversight responsibility of the Western North, suggested the establishment of a military detachment to tackle the challenges of illegal mining, popularly known as ‘galamsey’, chainsaw operators and border issues.
He said government would also focus on education, adding that there was the need for the establishment of public tertiary institutions in addition to the Enchi and Sefwi Wiawso Training Colleges of Education.
FROM CLEMENT ADZEI BOYE, SEKONDI
