Peace is a pre-requisite for development - Ofosu-Ampofo

Mr Samuel Ofosu- Ampofo, Eastern Regional Minister, has said that the pre-requisite requirement for ensuring speedy development in the region was for the people to live in peace.

He has therefore commended the chiefs and people of the Akuapem Traditional Area for ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the area all these years, irrespective of differences among them.

Mr Ofosu- Ampofo said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Okuapemhene, Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa, at his palace at Akropong on Wednesday to officially introduce himself to him and his people.

The Regional Minister, who was accompanied by Mr Babal Jamal, Deputy Minister designate, Mr Anthony Gyampoh, Eastern Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other party functionaries, said one of his major priorities was to ensure that peace prevailed at all times in all the traditional areas.

He said another area of concern to him was the falling standards of education in the Region and said he would ensure that a modern library equipped with modern text books were constructed for each of the 21 districts.

Mr Ofosu- Ampofo appealed to the traditional authorities to consider education as the top most priority in all their activities and help raise the standard.

The Regional Minister expressed concern about the high rate of road accidents in recent times, which he attributed to human error on the part of drivers.

He said if drivers exercised some sense of professionalism by way of avoiding unnecessary over speeding, overtaking and overloading, fatalities on the roads would be a thing of the past.

Mr Ofosu- Ampofo condemned the politicization of road accidents and called on Ghanaians to join hands with all the stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the problem before it gets out of hands.

Nana Ansah Sasraku, Chief of Mamfe, who spoke on behalf of the Okuapemhene congratulated Mr Ofosu- Ampofo on his position and urged him to be loyal to all irrespective of political background.

He pledged that Nananom would continue to give him all the necessary support if he treated them as important stakeholders and partners in development.

GNA