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Eastern Region Looks Forward To Positive Future Under New Regional Minister

By Gilbert Frimpong
General News Eric Kwarkye Dafour
FEB 22, 2017 LISTEN
Eric Kwarkye Dafour

The Eastern Region which was created on 1 November, 1953 is one of the ten (10) administrative Regions of Ghana. The Region shares common boundaries with Greater Accra, Ashanti, Brong-Ahafo and Volta Regions. Currently the population of the Region stands at 2,633,154 (according to the 2012 housing and population Census results). The major economic activities in the Region are Agriculture, Mining, fishing and commerce. It has a land area of 19,323 square kilometre which is about 8.19% of the total size of Ghana. It is the 7th largest region in terms of land area.

The Region’s population which is very youthful is made up of 51% females and 49% males. About 41.2% of the population is aged below 15 years with about 5.3% above 64 years leaving 53.5% in the economically active age group. Occupationally, 67.3% of the employed population is engaged in Agriculture, 10.7% in industry and the service sector employs 22% of the workers. With reference to Urban/Rural split, as much as 27.8% of the Region’s population lives in urban settlements and 72.2 in rural communities.

There are three major ethnic groups in the Region. They are the Akans, the Krobos and the Guans. The Region has twenty-six (26) Administrative Municipalities/Districts which are made up of ten (10) Municipals and sixteen (16) Districts.

Politically, the Eastern Region is one of the Strongholds of the ruling New Patriotic Party giving their 2016 presidential candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo 678,482votes representing 62.38% of the total votes cast in the region.

It is also the Region that gave birth to the President of the Republic.

As the home region of the president, we went out to find out from some stakeholders of the region what their expectations of the man who has been appointed by the president to occupy the regional coordinating council of the region are;

NDC
On the part of the NDC, Mr. Oliver Kevor the regional secretary of the party congratulated hon. Eric Kwarkye Dafour for his appointment and implored on him to do his very best to solve the many problems facing the region which includes bad roads, health issues, education and peace. He said, Hon. Dafour having been a former regional officer of his party (Former regional treasurer of NPP) has had the opportunity to travel across the length and breadth of the region and for that matter should use that advantage to bring the numerous paramountcies together. He added that one thing that has been a perennial threat to the peace of the region is the Fulani herdsmen menace. He pleaded with hon. Dafour to use every single arsenal within his reach to end the canker ones and for all and called on him to complete all projects started by the previous government.

When asked whether he believes Hon. Dafour is a person who can well deal with the many challenges facing the region, Mr. Kevor said as a former regional officer, he believes he is the best pair of hands to handle the problems of the region. He was however quick to add that a 'book cannot be judged by its cover' and so said they(the NDC) will give him the chance to start working before they praise or criticize his work.

NPP
The ruling party however is optimistic that Hon. Dafour is the best person under the current circumstances to handle the region. According to the regional Communication officer, Mr. David Prah, hon. Dafour's appointment is timely and he believes he will work very hard to the admiration of the people in the region.

Commenting on allegations that some regional officers were not happy about his appointment and also about his human relations issues that have been brought under strict scrutiny from some section of the people in the region, Mr. Prah said, the regional officers of the party unanimously agreed to Hon. Dafour's appointment. 'Let me tell you something, the president will never bring anybody to the region without first consulting the region, and the entire regional officers under the chairmanship of hon. Kissi unanimously accepted his nomination.' he said.

He added that having been a former regional treasurer and the percentage of votes he garnered as MP during the 2016 general election are indications that he has good human relation with people. 'Hon. Dafour is a human oriented person than task oriented who believes the human needs of people must be given the needed attention first than any other thing'.

He also added his voice to the call by his compatriot in the NDC that Hon. Dafour should use his background as a Kwahu to deal with the Fulani menace completely. He again rehashed some of the things hon. Dafour intends to achieve as a regional minister which are within the broader framework of the NPP's development agenda.

HEALTH
A medical practitioner and the Medical Superintendent of the Tafo Government hospital, Dr. Joseph Kojo Tambil congratulated Hon. Dafour for his appointment. He pleaded with him to use his office to champion the the course of effective health delivery in the region. He said the NHIS owes several Health facilities in the region which include the 10months arrears they owe the Tafo Government hospital and pleaded with the minister to step in and safe the situation.

On the issue of infrastructure, Dr. Tambil said the Tafo hospital is facing huge infrastructural challenges and have therefore drew plans to arrest the canker which they will be putting on the table of the minister soon and they are hopeful the minister will step in to help them.

Several other people we spoke to which include traditional leaders, transport unions, assembly members congratulated Hon. Dafour for his appointment, excellent delivery at the vetting and his subsequent swearing in and pleaded with him to solve the many challenges confronting the region head on.

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