The members of the Council of State have paid a three-day working visit to the Western Region to familiarise themselves with happenings such as developmental projects by the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), effects of illegal mining on the environment among others.
Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Western Regional Minister, in welcoming them noted that in the next few years the region will be transformed massively because of the many development projects currently ongoing.He pointed out that one of the greatest challenges the region is being confronted with is illegal mining. “We are doing our best to ensure that this issue becomes a thing of the past.”
Also, he mentioned youth unemployment as a challenge and was quick to add that “government has what it takes to deal with this challenge”.
Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Chairman of the Council of State, said there is a need to engage the various regions across the country to know their aspirations, concerns, challenges, discuss and then to see the way forward. “We are here to learn at first-hand the development projects currently ongoing and how the illegal mining menace is being dealt with to enable us advise the president accordingly.”
As part of their tour, the members of the Council of State visited the T3 Thermal Plant at Aboadze, the site where the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation’s (GNPC) operational headquarters is being constructed in Takoradi; and the Gas Processing plant at Atuabo, because of the key role the energy sector plays in Ghana’s economy.
They were at these organisations to also understand their operations and the adverse effect the COVID- 19 pandemic has had on their activities and the national economy.
They also interacted with members of the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).
