Revamping ailing development sites my priority — Quansah

The Central Regional Minister, Mr Aquinas Tawiah Quansah, has stated that revamping ailing development sites in the region to create jobs for the people will be his priority.

He said the tourist sites, for instance, could generate a lot of income for the people and the country if serious attention was directed at their development.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic to outline his vision for the region, he said, “we would pool resources to take our people out of poverty and squalor.

“Central Region reigns high in a number of tourist sites in the country such as castles and forts, parks, beaches, lagoons with many more of such major facilities forgotten.

“I can say without doubt that Central Region stands tall when it comes to tourist sites in the country. Therefore, if such sites, particularly, the unknown ones are developed, they will generate a lot of income and employment,” he said.

According to Mr Quansah, the tourism industry had not received the needed attention and support thereby leaving most of them in their original state.

The minister said he would ensure that the known ones were given the necessary refurbishment to match international standards that would draw many tourists to the region.

He announced that the region was in talks with a group of investors to construct a five-star hotel in the region to boost tourism.

Industrialisation

Touching on industrialisation, Mr Quansah said, “My major vision is to take the region out of poverty by industrialising it,” and added that he would also ensure the operationalisation of the Komenda Sugar Factory.

“We are in talks with some Chinese and Indian investors to sign an off-taker agreement to enable us to expand the cassava and starch industry next month”, he said.

He said he had identified 10 areas to undertake farming on a large scale that could support the industries.

“Farming is not a bad occupation as some people see it in Ghana. When you go to other countries, farming is a very lucrative industry that employs a lot of graduates,” he stated, noting that if the sector was well developed, it could reduce the current high unemployment rate in the country.

“Majority of the Ghanaian populace will find jobs to cater for their families if we develop the farming sector to be attractive,” the minister said.

According to him, the region should not be counted as part of the poorest regions in the country, judging from its arable lands and other natural resources.

Mr Quansah, however, appealed to the youth, particularly those in the region, to go into large scale farming with new ideas to feed the incoming industries.

“Very soon, the region will be the hub of industrialisation and we need the farmers particularly, to supply these factories with raw materials,” he advised.

He said oil palm and orange plantations were in abundance in the region and that “industries that are into palm oil and fruit juice production can come in and set up businesses since the raw materials will not be an issue”.

Fishing

Mr Quansah said the fishing processing plant being constructed at Elmina would be replicated in some parts of the region while cold store facilities would be established in other coastal areas.

He said a Chinese group had agreed to construct a marina on the Fosu Lagoon in Cape Coast.

Mr Quansah said all laws prohibiting unhealthy fishing practices, such as pair trawling, fishing with light, and unapproved nets would be strictly enforced to inject some sanity in the industry.

Education

He said a 30-per cent quota system would be enforced to allow indigenes of the region to gain access to some of the education institutions.

“It is about time we let our people enjoy the educational facilities in this region,” he said.

He used the occasion to appeal to all stakeholders to contribute to the development of the region, and added that “my doors are always open”.