Prof Addow Obeng proposes home grown investment to develop C/Region

The Vice Chancellor of the
University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof Emmanuel Addow Obeng, has called on residents of the Central Region, particularly Cape Coast, and indigenous institutions, to take the lead in fully harnessing the natural resources to develop the region.

He noted that although the region was well endowed with lots of natural resources, they nave not been fully harnessed to create wealth for its people, and had not attracted the needed foreign exchange, which will lead to regional economic growth and development.

Prof Obeng made the call on Friday, at the first-ever Central Region Development Forum at Agona Swedru.

It was to provide a platform for the discussion of issues bordering on the sustainable development of the region.

He again noted that countries like Asia, took the bold step, through cultural revolutions and indigenization, to create wealth and gradually modernize towards growth and development.

He implored people to discard the notion that politicians would implement developmental projects, and rather take the initiative to develop their own communities.

Prof Obeng urged the people to place a high premium on education, training and research, indicating that with the presence of two public universities, the region had a huge advantage to achieve socio-economic development.

He gave the assurance that the UCC would remain committed to engage all relevant stakeholders, in forging the way for the sustained development of the region.

The Central Regional Minister, Nana Ato Arthur, stressed on the need to encourage indigenes of the region resident abroad, to come home and contribute their quota to the region's development.

He again called for the need to co-ordinate other development activities, taking place in various parts of the region, to enhance a more holistic development of the region.

The Executive Director of the Central Regional Development Commission (CEDECOM), Mr. John Akowuah, disclosed that a development club, dubbed Central Club 20, was being proposed to act as catalyst for growth and development in the region.

The forum was under the theme “Harnessing the resources of the Central Region for accelerated development.”