REGIONAL MINISTER VISITS 85 INSTITUTIONS (PAGE 20)

Story: A. Kofoya-Tetteh, Koforidua

TO ensure the proper functioning of all the sectors of the national economy and good governance in the Eastern Region, the Regional Minister, Mr Kwadwo Afram Asiedu, has, within three months, visited 85 institutions in the area.
A statement issued by the Public Relations Department of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, stated that the visits were to help the regional minister acquaint himself with problems faced by such institutions and see how best to resolve them.
Among the places he visited were the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and others such as the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Statistical Service, Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, Intravenous Infusions Limited, producers of pharmaceutical products, Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ministry of Trade, Industry and President’s Special Initiative (PSI) and the Regional Hospital, all in Koforidua.
The others were Driver, Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Electoral Commission, Ghana Highway Authority, GRATIS Foundation, Department of Feeder Roads, Attorney-General’s Office, all in Koforidua, Lagray Chemical Factory at Nsawam and the Pinora Fruit Processing Factory at Asamankese.
He also paid courtesy calls on the paramount chiefs of New Juaben, Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Akyem Bosome, Akuapem, Boso-Gua, Anum and Kwahu.
The regional minister, who assumed office in August, last year, stated at the various MDAs and other government institutions that it was necessary for him to be at such places to interact with the staff to ensure proper supervision, co-ordination and monitoring.
All heads of department, he said, would be required to submit briefs on their activities, specifying their challenges and requests for onward transmission to the responsible ministries and mother institutions for the necessary action.
During his rounds, which he termed as a working visit, most of the workers expressed their delight at the visit, and commended the minister for his trail-brazing undertaking.
They added that no minister had had such encounters with both junior and senior employees in recent years.
At the Koforidua Regional Hospital, Mr Afram Asiedu was conducted round the facility by the acting Director of the hospital, Dr Appiah Kusi.
The regional minister praised the doctors and other health workers for their immense contribution to the health sector, and urged them to continue to stay at post, instead of going for greener pastures abroad.
He promised to liaise with the Ministry of Health to ensure prompt reimbursement of health insurance fees, provision of security at the Medical Village and the tarring of the road leading to the hospital’s car park.