Agona Swedru, Nov. 24, GNA – Mr. Isaac Edumadzi, Central Regional Minister has reiterated the call on Ghanaians to put a stop to protracted chieftaincy and ethnic conflicts and social vices which impede economic the development of the nation.
He said, “it is a fact that no volunteer or foreigner will risk his or her life just for the sake of helping someone to discover his or her inherited potentials if these same people are fighting wars.”
The Minister said this in a speech read on his behalf by Mr. GB.L. Siilo, Agona District Coordinating Director at the swearing in of American Peace Corps Volunteers at Agona Swedru.
He said chieftaincy, land cases and ethnic conflicts are causing serious damage to the nation’s economic development.
Mr. Edumadze stressed that it is regrettable that most deprived communities with genuine needs for development partners could not have access to them due to prevailing of ethnic or chieftaincy disputes.
The Regional Minister stated that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is threatening to wipe away the youth who are to assume the mantle of leadership.
Mr. Edumadze, who said that current health status of the country, according to the medical experts is bad and worrisome, called for the involvement of all and sundry in the fight against the disease.
He assured the volunteers that the government is highly committed to the fight against the HIV/AIDS because of its threat to the human resource needed for development.
Mr. Edumadze expressed concern about the fast depletion of the country’s forest, adding that the country has lost 2.7 million cubic meters as a result of illegal timber operations.
He advocated the promotion of public awareness through the education of rural people in forestry and wildlife conservation to maintain life-sustaining system to ensure effective tourism and income generating opportunities.
Mr. Edumadzi called on the volunteers who are experts in Eco-tourism to help improve the discovery and development of sites.
