The Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku has charged citizens of the area in the United States of America and Canada to seriously invest in the region's high potential resources apart from attracting huge investors home.

He tasked them to market the huge investment opportunities particularly in agriculture, tourism, forestry, energy generation, mining and the hospitality industry for economic development, job creation and reduce poverty among the people.

Addressing the fifth convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) in New York, on Saturday, Mr Opoku who led a delegation from the region commended the members for beautifully showcasing their rich traditional heritage and the unique traditional practices of Ghana.

The three-day event had the theme "Fostering Solidarity in Cultural Vaues, Mutual Assistance and Prosperity in Brong Ahafo Community". This year's convention which was dedicated to raising funds in aid of the Sunyani Regional Hospital fetched about $10,500 before the final tally.

Activities at the convention included a colorful procession, durbar of chiefs and queen mothers, a banquet dinner dance, picnic, poetry recitals, traditional drumming and dancing competition, and musical concert.

Touching on some developments at home, Mr. Opoku said the region as the "bread basket" of Ghana still boasts as one of the most endowed and peaceful regions, saying that "Governemnt believes in public partnership in its development agenda and therefore counts on the effective support of private partners in all the sectors to harness the economic potentials of the region for the supreme benefit of our people".

He announced that the University of Energy and Natural Resources in Sunyani, the first public university in the region is progressing steadily with a current total enrolment of 714 students, 154 of them are in the second year.

In consonance with the Act establishing the University, Act 830 of 2011, the Minister said a satellite campus is being opened at Dormaa Ahenkro to enable the institution to expand its students intake for the benefit of a lot more people. This is apart from the Catholic University College of Ghana at Fiapre, the Valley View University in Techiman and a new campus of the University of Education, Winneba which will be opened at Techiman by next academic year.

Further more, Mr. Opoku, who is also the Member of Parliament for Asunafo South noted that work had started on 123 Community Senior High Secondary Schools across the country, seven of which are in Derma, Kasapin, Danyame,Anyima, Abaase, Krobo, and Nkrankwanta all in the region.

On health, he said the government had provided five polyclinics at Techimantia, Wamfie, Bomaa, Kwatire and Nkrankwanta at a cost of $14.2million.

Apart from equipping the Polyclinics with modern equipment, some health workers had been trained in Austria in Hospital Administration and Health Care delivery to provide excellent services there. A total o 136 community health compounds had also been established to improve maternal and child mortality in the region among other initiatives to ensure improved medical care.

On the deadly Ebola viral disease, Mr. Opoku noted that no case had been recorded in Ghana yet, adding that some suspected cases examined proved negative however all entry points are secured,with travellers entering being screened.

The Regional Minister praised COBAANA for donating assorted medical equipment worth $130,000 to the Sunyani Regional Hospital and appealed to them to support it this time with an Autoclave and commercial laundry machines.

To improve the current doctor-patient ratio in the region, Mr. Opoku disclosed that a fund will be launched in December this year for the training of medical doctors and other medical personnel specifically to meet the region's health needs.

The Regional Minister also mentioned that after several consultations, a proposal will soon be presented to the President to consider the establishment of a Medical school at the Sunyani Regional Hospital to train Medical doctors and other needed critical medical staff.

Nana Pimapim Kagbrese ,V, President of the Brong Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount Chief of the Yeji Traditional area, who chaired the function, urged the citizens to strongly maintain the cherished Ghanaian tradition of staying together peacefully and supporting each other.

He also praised members of COBAANA for coming together annually to take stock of their activities and to support developments at home, describing it as noble venture which should not be lost .

Welcoming the gathering, the president of COBAANA in New York, Mr. Edward Aboagye Mensah said support for the improvement of facilities at the Sunyani Regional Hospital remains one of their top priorities.

Nana Agyapong Baidoo Brobbey, Omanhene of COBAANA in New York won the nomination as Mr. COBAANA, whilst Ms. Henrietta Agyei from the Columbus, Ohio branch was elected as Ms. COBAANA. Newly elected executives for the council chaired by Mr. Alex Ankomah took the oath of office.