Takoradi, April 4, GNA - Dr Toni Aubynn, the Head of Corporate Affairs and Social Development of the Goldfields Ghana Limited, has suggested the formation of a Western Regional Development Consortium to raise funds for the development of the region.

He said the consortium could also float shares, revamp and buy all potentially viable defunct industrial facilities in the region. These were contained in a speech read on his behalf at the third in a series of lectures organized by the Western Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) as part of the Ghana at 50 celebrations at Takoradi on Tuesday.

He said the Western Region must revive all its dormant industries including the Bonsa Tyre factory, Aboso Glass factory and other industries that had been abandoned.

Dr. Aubynn said the mining industry needed to be critically assessed to enable the region to benefit substantially from its gains. He said the region's chieftaincy disputes must be radically solved to propel the development of the region while modern scientific methods must be used to market the region globally.

Dr. Aubynn said challenges in the education, health and agriculture must be tackled and solved quickly to safeguard the development of the region.

Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, the Chief Executive Officer of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, said it was sad that many Ghanaians take bribes and lack the focus to plan ahead.

He said Ghanaians should not be susceptible but should be bold and withstand all pressures either from within or above in their daily operations.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said education was the only tool that could be used to reverse the present poverty into economic success and urged all to take education seriously.