Bolgatanga, Feb. 11, GNA - Mr. Boniface Gambila, Upper East Regional Minister on Wednesday observed that ongoing efforts to tackle poverty and other developmental challenges of the region can only achieve the desired impact through dedication to duty and team work. This, he said, called for mutual respect between heads of government departments and their subordinate, without which there could be no effective team work.

Mr. Gambila made the call at a maiden meeting with heads of departments in Bolgatanga, during which he was formally presented to them by the outgoing Regional Minister, Mr. Mahami Salifu. "We have a common objective to achieve, and considering your vast and diverse experiences we could get there quite easily if we work together with a unity of purpose," he emphasized.

The Regional Minister advised workers to draw distinction between official duties and personal matters so as to eliminate conflict of interests and unnecessary confrontation with their superiors at the workplace.

"Let us all adhere strictly to the policies and rules in our various organisations", he urged.

Mr. Salifu on his part, expressed thanks and appreciation to heads of department, District Chief Executives and the press for the support they accorded him during his tenure of office.

"Pressmen in this Region deserve special commendation for continuing to carry out their work diligently under very difficult conditions. They have projected the region and given expression to the views and feelings of our people", he said.

Mr. Salifu further commended security agencies in the area for their role in maintaining peace, law and order in the region. He urged all to support the incoming regional Minister in his endeavours, saying that "successful administration of the region does not lie in the effort of the minister alone, but in our collective effort."

The Regional co-ordinating Director, Mr. David Bakari, presided over the ceremony. He urged department heads to make the virtue of punctuality and time-consciousness a permanent habit in their various places of work.