B/A@50 Launched… Parliamentary Caucus pledges GH¢12,000 for Anniversary

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Parliamentary Caucus has pledged GH¢12,000.00 towards the financing of the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the region.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sunyani West and former Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, made the pledge on behalf of his colleagues, at the launch of the Golden Jubilee anniversary celebration of the creation of the region, in Sunyani.

The region, then known as Western Ashanti, was created on April 4, 1959 by the Convention People's Party government, led by the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

The year long programme, under the theme: “Brong-Ahafo at 50 - The Achievements, Challenges and Prospects” would include public lectures and symposia, quiz competitions for Junior and Senior High Schools, essay competitions for second cycle and tertiary institutions, and clean-up campaigns.

It would also involve press conferences on the anniversary, sport competitions, trade fair dubbed “Dwa Kese 2009” to showcase the economic and business potentials of the region, as well as a grand durbar of the chiefs and people of the region, and a non-denominational thanksgiving service to end it.

The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, appealed to the people to use the occasion to take stock of past achievements, challenges and prospects, to enable them come out with pragmatic and systematic approaches to tap all available resources for the rapid socio-economic development of the region.

He mentioned the varied tourism and investment potentials of the region, such as national parks, waterfalls, animal sanctuaries, caves, shrines and festivals.

The President of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of Kukuom, Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, appealed to the people to be proud as citizens of the region, and make available their potentials and resources to propel the development of the area.

He said the region lagged behind in education, but disputes, especially chieftaincy disputes, were retarding the progress of the region.

Osahene Aterkyi, therefore, emphasised on the need for the people to use the period to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the region, identify the shortfalls, and make amends to meet national standards, aspirations and expectations.

The Chairman of the Planning Committee, Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, said the committee needed enough resources to successfully carry out the various activities.

He appealed to all citizens of the region, both at home and abroad, as well as corporate organisations and business concerns, within and outside the area, to contribute both in cash and in kind, to make the celebration a memorable one.