The Eastern Regional Minister, Dr Francis Osafo-Mensah, on Wednesday assured workers that next year would see much improvement in their living conditions if only they work hard to support the government's economic policies.

Speaking at an end-of-year reception for the staff of the Regional Co-ordinating Council, he referred to the report on the economy delivered at the NPP National Delegates Conference at Cape Coast by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo at the week-end and said it indicated that the economy was steadily improving. Dr Osafo-Mensah recalled that at the time the government assumed power in 2001, the country's financial reserve could only import a week's supply of crude oil but now the reserve could import three months' requirement.

He, however, stressed the need for all sectors of the economy, in particular the civil service, to work hard and avoid waste in the system to ensure a booming economy.

Dr Osafo-Mensah who is also the MP for Mpraeso, said the government's commitment to uphold the rule of law and democratic principles had created the environment for the public, including civil servants, to speak their minds freely. "Even some opponents who are living well always complain of hunger and poverty", he said. He asked Ghanaians to emulate the hard work and patriotism of the Germans and Japanese who, he said, had to rebuild their countries from the rubbles inflicted on them during the Second World War into the leading economies the world now acknowledges.
The Deputy Regional Minister, Mr Gustav Narh-Dometey, urged the workers to increase productivity next year, noting that some of them really worked less than the official eight-hour per day. He reminded them that the solution to low salary was increased productivity.
The Eastern Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Sylvester Manu, cautioned them that as the country enters an election year, they should avoid identifying themselves openly with political parties in order not to undermine their status as civil servants.