Old Ningo, Oct 31, GNA - Mrs. Cecilia Ladzer Bannerman, Minister of Mines has said that Government was determined to encourage and assist communities to harness and exploit their natural resources towards the socio-economic development of the people.

She said, it is therefore, necessary that the chiefs and people unite to create an enabling environment for the involvement of investors towards a mutual working relationship to develop their natural resources.

Mrs Bannerman said this when she inaugurated the Great Ningo Development Forum in partnership with the Great Ningo Traditional Council and the Ningo Area Councils at a People's Durbar and Fundraising ceremony at Old Ningo on Saturday.

The People's Durbar, which is in aid of the 500-million cedi Great Ningo Education Educational Fund and Ningo Secondary School is also to promote the socio-economic advancement of the Ningo Traditional Area. The Forum, under the Presidency of Prof. J. S. Djangmah also aims at fostering peace, unity and harmony among all Ningo citizens, protect Ningo lands and other resources, support education, sanitation, health and the environment and to support the Traditional Council and Area Councils in the effective administration and management of the affairs of the Ningo Traditional Area.

Mrs Bannerman urged all Ningo citizens to bury their differences, whether on political or chieftaincy issues, in the overall interest of the area to enable them to accelerate the development of the traditional area.

She said the traditional area abounds in large sources of salt deposits and large tracts of coastal landscape that, if well managed and exploited, would ensure the total transformation of the area and bring employment opportunities to the people.

Prof. Djangmah said the Forum is enjoining all educated persons and others endowed with wealth to come together to seek the development of the area.

He said it is expected that the Ningo People's Durbar would be an annual event to showcase the cultural, economic and social development of the Ningo people to ensure continued peace and unity. He said education for the people in and around Ningo should be tailored towards their immediate and future needs, "devoid of the pure grammar type" that produces students without practical know-how and not technologically inclined to benefit the community and give them employment.

Prof. Djangmah said the Ningo Traidtional area, which is part of the Dangme West District Assembly abounds in land suitable for agriculture, fishing, beaches, salt mining, recreation and real estate development as well as industrial development but all these have not been harnessed to benefit the people.

He said, the Forum would also seek to create a Great Ningo Land Bank as a vehicle for development of the land resources with varied vocational activities by bringing together lands held by families, clans and the traditional authorities that have not been previously alienated. Dr K.B. Asante, President of GaDangme Council, the Majority Leader, Mr Felix Owusu Agyapong, Mr E.T. Mensah, Member of Parlaiment of Ningo-Prampram, Nene Animle Klagbordzo V, Chief of Osudoku Traditional Area, Nene Osragbo Djangmah II, Paramount chief of Ningo as well as other traditional rulers, clans family heads and citizens of the area were present at the occasion, during which an appeal for funds was launched.

Other members of the Executive Council of the Forum are Commander (rtd) Ayiku Omang, Vice President, Dr Sammy T. Sackey, Secretary, Mr Sam N. Kodjoe, Solicitor and Advocate and Mr Tetteh Teinor, Treasurer. The rest are Mr E.T. Hormeku, Mr Victor Djangmah, Mr Stephen Nartey, Mr Lawrence Djangmah, Mr Benjamin N. Narh, Mr E.T. Narh and Mr John Kudadji. 31 Oct. 04