The Western Region Minister, Dr. Kwabena Okyere Darko Mensah has opined that the surest way to addressing unemployment issues in the Western Region and other parts of the country, is for the private sector to make substantial investments in opportunities abound in the region. According to him, the state could only provide job opportunities for 5 percent of the working population, leaving a chunk of it to be absorbed by the private sector.
In a deliberate approach to wooing investors to the region, the various local assemblies have been charged to streamline their plans towards building business supportive environments for potential investors. He noted that such consideration will position the local assemblies to be receptive to investments from the private sector and ultimately improve the local economy.
“One of the problems has been jobs and economic prosperity, and we strongly believe that the assemblies should begin to focus on local economic development. As for the political and administrative arrangements, people are ok with it. They want assemblies to do more,” he told Skyy News’ Jacob Baah.
Mr. Okyere Darko-Mensah disclosed that the Regional Coordinating Council is working at addressing other matters including chieftaincy disputes, improvement of road infrastructure, and among others, in the coming years. He is convinced that given the work done over the past years, it would be less of a challenge to advance plans to transform the region.
To him, “it is only a matter of time that residents would realize the quantum of investment made by the government in the region.”
Mr. Okyere Darko-Mensah emphasized that the region is being awarded a substantial amount of industrial opportunities for potential investors to explore, and ultimately add value to the rich natural and human resources inherent in the region.