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Mr. Kwamina Duncan, Minister-designate for Central Region has said his administration would make a deliberate effort to direct investment to the region to eradicate poverty which has been plaguing the region for years.

He lamented that though the region abounds in natural resources from the coastal to the forest belt, it had not been translated into improving the living standard of the people.

Mr. Duncan said this when he appeared before the Appointment Committee of Parliament to be vetted for his ministerial position.

He said the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM), and yet to be established Coastal Development Authority, would spearhead the development agenda in the region.

Mr. Duncan said it was sad that the region which was once the citadel of civilisation in Ghana had been reduced to a poverty striken area.

He said there was the need to enhance investments in agriculture and to move away from subsistence to commercial farming.

Mr. Duncan said the presence of numerous educational institutions in the region would be used to facilitate economic development by ensuring that agricultural produce were used to feed the schools.

He said though the region hosts many elite Senior High Schools, the educational standard has fallen to a level that, there was the need to mobilise the Assemblies to encourage the schools to perform better.

Mr. Duncan gave the assurance that a committee would be established to institute awards through the schools to facilitate the admissions of more indigenes to the elite schools.

With regards to improving the unemployment situation in the region, he said under the New Patriotic Party’s manifesto of “one district, one factory” concept the 20 districts in the region would be served through an agro-based industry to improve the situation.

He said the region also had a big potential in salt production which was currently at a subsistence level but would be developed into a commercial venture with the anticipation of partnering the petro-chemical industry to undertake projects to create more jobs.

Mr. Duncan said though the Central Region has been the hub of tourism in Ghana, the indigenes have not benefitted directly from the traffic, since most of tourist do not stay overnight because of its proximity to Accra.

He said, he would want to address the situation by ensuring that investors were invited to build first class hospitality facilities to encourage visitors to stay longer in the region.

Mr. Duncan said, he would administer over a region where pre-mix fuel would be distributed to the coastal landing beaches, free of any influence and divertion.