Brong Ahafo policy fair underway

Sunyani (B/A), May 3, GNA – Osahene Kwaku Aterkyi II, President of Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs on Wednesday advised followers of political parties to avoid unguarded statements and intemperate language during the 2012 electioneering campaigning.

He said the nation needed to maintain security and peace to ensure violent-free elections for sustained socio-economic development.

Osahene Aterkyi who is Omanhane of Kukuom traditional area gave the advice at the opening ceremony of the Regional policy fair currently underway in Sunyani. It is organised by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information.

The four-day fair on the theme, “Building together in a better Ghana” is aimed among others at creating the opportunity for the people to seek the right to information and interact with policy makers and implementers with the view to enhancing policy formulation and policy review.

It is also to afford Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), as well as Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) the opportunity to showcase government programmes, projects and achievements within the 40 months rule of the government.

Osahene Aterkyi observed the region was endowed with a lot of economic potentials, citing that the various tourist attraction sites could be harnessed to promote the development of the hospitality

industry in the region.
He called on private enterprises and investors to team up with the public sector to develop the infrastructural base like roads and hotels at the tourist sites to boost eco-tourism for rapid economic growth.

The paramount chief who presided at the function, urged the general public to participate fully in the programme, saying “It is up to all of us to take stock of what we are seeing to make meaningful suggestions to

policy makers for formulation and implementation.
Mr. Fritz Baffour, Minister of Information who opened the fair on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills, said the ministry would not relent on efforts to execute its mandate by projecting government policies, programmes and achievements for a better Ghana.

He emphasized that the concept was in line with the vision and aspirations of President Mills, explaining that afforded the people the opportunity to participate in governance.

Mr. Baffour expressed the hope that the event would achieve the major objective of harnessing the economic and investment potentials of the Region such as mining and agriculture.

The Information Minister, who is Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma South, said the Policy Fair was a follow up to promote participation and transparency in the administration of the country.

He commended the efforts of the RCC and the planning committee for not only selecting relevant topics in conformity with the government's development agenda for the dialogue session of the Fair but generally ensuring effective planning that had culminated to its successful take off.

Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Regional Minister, in a welcoming address explained that the fair was part of the democratic process of government to decentralize development programmes and achievements that had transpired in the last three years.

He said the programme would serve as a platform to foster and deepen relationship between the public and private sectors for accelerated and sustainable socio-economic development of the country.

Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo expressed regret that the thinking and utterances of some Ghanaians since the beginning of the year did not promote peace for the progress of the country, as pronouncements by some politicians gave cause for concern.

He noted that while it was expected such utterances would support the democratic credentials and achievements of the country, they rather tended to subvert the culture of democracy.

The Regional Minister advised the youth not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to engage in acts and deeds that could plunge the nation into strife and chaos.

It will be wrong to assume that because there is peace in the country, unguarded statements can be made anyhow, he said, and cautioned that the recent political violence in Cote D'Ivoire resulted from political intolerance and election dispute.

He stated that more than 2000 refugees from Cote D'Ivoire, mostly women and children, were at a refugee camp in the Region because of the quest for political power by some people in that country.

About 120 state organizations including municipal and district assemblies in the region and some private sector business operators are participating in the fair.

It would be climaxed on Saturday May 5, which has been declared as culture, tourism and food bazaar.

GNA