Nana Akufo-Addo, flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has challenged government to do more to ensure that the people of the Western Region benefit directly from the oil find and its associated activities.

He said "we can even say that the oil is on your ‘land’ and therefore everything must be done to ensure that all of you benefit one way or the other from it."

"What government must do is to help develop your skills and talents to enable you secure some of the jobs associated with the drilling," Nana Addo prescribed.

Nana Akufo-Addo made these remarks when he visited the Cape Three Points, in the Ahanta West Constituency on Saturday, as part of his 'hope restoration' tour of the Western Region.

The NPP Presidential Candidate said he was worried about residents of the region being near the boom of wealth while they continue to wallow in poverty.

"Most of our country's natural resources come from the Western Region and yet not much has been done to ensure that this contribution to the country's revenue translates into positive development for the people,” Nana Addo bemoaned.

He assured that under his leadership, technical training and engineering schools would be set up in the region to help them acquire the necessary training that could help them compete for some of the jobs.

Nana Addo also emphasized the need for all children in the country to receive education at least up to senior high level.

"That is why I have said and I want you to hear it from me today that if I become president, Senior High School education will be free for all our children," he stressed.

According to the NPP Presidential Candidate, "everything must be done to ensure that our young men and women have the skills that can help them acquire jobs to do and that will be one of the main priorities of an Akufo-Addo government."

Nana Addo also toured areas such as Akwidaa, Dixcove, Abura, Agona and Apowa where he reiterated these comments. In the fishing communities, he assured fishermen that the next NPP government would bring back the Ministry of Fisheries to help tackle the challenges they face in work.

He added that under his leadership subsidies would be introduced to help reduce the burden of high cost of inputs.

On premix fuel, the NPP leader said: "I want to assure you that under my leadership, political interference as we have now will be removed from the distribution of premix and left to you and your committees to handle."

On Saturday, the NPP leader took his tour to the Jomoro constituency.**