The deputy Ashanti Regional Minister designate, Ms. Patricia Appiagyei, has stated that she would support the legalization of prostitution to protect those who are already in it.

She also believes that when given the chance every woman will rather indulge in a more productive venture than hawking.

The deputy minister designate who said this when she appeared before the Appointments Committee yesterday, stress that she would only support that idea for the safety of those who are already.

She however stated that that she would not encourage any woman to indulge in it.

With a vast experience in micro financing and having worked with small and medium enterprises, Ms. Appiagyei promised to bring her expertise and skills to bear in her new position.

The next to appear was the deputy minister of Private Sector Development and PSI, Mr. Moses Dani Baah. He reiterated the point made earlier by the Minister of Defense, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufour that, Ghana may not be able to halt the exodus of health workers from the country.

This is because the nation could not pay them well to entice them to stay in the country.

According to him, the Additional Duty Hours Allowance (ADHA) was introduced as a measure to entice health workers to stay in the country.

He explained that it was designed to compensate doctors who were doing overtime, but with time all the other health workers without whom the doctors could not have worked, also demanded to be put on it.

On how districts without health posts could also enjoy the services of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Mr. Dani Baah explained that the provision of the health facilities is one of the objectives of the scheme.

He therefore assured that when the scheme becomes fully operational, all districts would have a health facility to enable the people to enjoy the benefit of their contribution.

He urged all and sundry to ensure that ?the scheme comes to stay,? adding ?the NHIS has a great future. For his part, the deputy minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines designate, Mr. A. Adjei-Yeboah, acknowledges that the activities of charcoal burners pose a great danger to the survival of the forest reserves of the country.

He pointed out that, as long as there is demand for the fuel wood, the practice will persist, ? the sector generates about $200 million annually, it is huge business.?

Other nominees who appeared before the committee yesterday, include, Messrs Magnus Opare-Asamoah, Roads and Transport, William Ofori Boafo, Defence, Daniel Dugan, Fisheries, J. B. Danquah Adu, Women and Chilren?s Affair and Ms. Cecilia Dapaah, Works and Housing.