Kumasi, Feb. 25, GNA- Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, Ashanti Regional Minister, has pledged to make peace and security his main priority. Development without peace, he said would be meaningless, stressing that peace, security and the comfort of the people, are the necessary ingredients to facilitate progress.

Mr Opoku Manu made the pledge when he interacted with the media in Kumasi on his first day in office, at the Regional Co-ordinating Council.

He promised to help develop the lighting system in the Metropolis and improve transportation in the region to boost security. The Minister said he would work in close collaboration with the security agencies to adopt measures that would ensure sanity in the region, and also deal with recalcitrant persons who might go against the law.

He said even though majority of the people in the region were not sympathisers of the ruling National Democratic Congress, he would work in the best interest of all and not for his party members alone. "Working towards a common goal to help the people in the region would ensure development," he explained. Mr Opoku Manu called for the suppression of divisive party politics and asked that what is right and beneficial to the people must be done.