Accra, Oct. 15, GNA - Mr Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, on Thursday, said although the region was endowed with rich human and natural resources, their full benefits for its development were yet to be realised.

He explained that these resources had not been exploited due to many challenges including inadequate housing, illegal activities of chainsaw operators, small scale mining and increase in criminal activities, especially armed robbery.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo announced this at the Meet-The-Press series in Accra to highlight activities for the Region's Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration under the theme; "Brong Ahafo @ 50: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects".

However, after its creation, the region had witnessed tremendous improvement in physical infrastructural and human resource development. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said the modest achievements had impacted positively on the quality of life in the Region and justified its creation. He noted that there had been improvement in the education sector, road network, health care delivery, energy, communication and other social services.

"In the education sector, prior to its creation, there were only a Senior High School and a few primary and middle schools. Today, there are 1,425 nursery/kindergarten schools, 747 primary schools, 53 Junior High Schools, 35 Senior High Schools and three Teacher Training Colleges in the Region," he said.

Mr Nyamekye-Marfo pointed out that those achievements, coupled with its comparative advantage in terms of agricultural production, fast and highly competitive tourism and investment industries had shown that the Region was progressing steadily.

He explained that the Region was created as a result of agitation by some prominent chiefs and citizens over alleged discriminatory practices in the Asante Confederacy Council.

"The agitation culminated in the boycott of the Council by chiefs in the Region and the quest for self autonomy for the Brong's and Ahafo's was quite imminent, judging from their unrelenting standoff," he said. Mr Nyamekye-Marfo said in the wake of those unhealthy developments and the looming potential security implications for the country, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's First President, decisively created the Brong Ahafo Region on April 4, 1957.

Activities planned include quiz and essay competition for junior and senior high schools and tertiary institutions, tree planting and clean-up exercises, health walk and football competition.

Others are; trade and investment fair exhibition on October, 22; congress for citizens, inauguration of anniversary projects; a grand durbar on Saturday, November 7, and non-denominational thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 8, 2009. 15 Oct. 09

Caption for pictures:

723,724,731: Mr Kwadwo Nyamekeye-Marfo, Brong Ahafo Regional Minister addressing the media on the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration of the Region.

733,735,736: Mr Kwadwo Nyamekeye-Marfo, (left), Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, addressing the media on the Golden Jubilee Anniversary celebration of the Region. With him is Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (right) Deputy Minister of Information.