Bolgatanga (UE), Aug. 9, GNA - The newly appointed Minister of the Upper East Region, Mr Alhassan Samari, has stated that his administration would not countenance laziness, malingering or lateness to work.

He indicated that the region, being one of the poorest parts of the country could develop if workers put up their best by sacrificing and working harder to increase productivity.

"The Government alone cannot alleviate the poverty level in the region. It behoves on all of us as workers to stop being lazy and work assiduously to help develop the area," the Minister stressed.

He, therefore, appealed to heads of departments to institute mechanisms that would check and sanction workers who either do not come to work or report to work late and leave the office before closing. He suggested that a system of registration be put in place for all workers to write and sign their names as they report to work and leave the workplace.

Mr Samari also cautioned that he would not allow Government property, especially vehicle and stationery, to be misused by officials at the expense of the state.

He, therefore, enjoined the people of the area especially heads of departments, development partners, opinion and traditional leaders, to give him the needed support so that together, they could develop the region.

Mr Samari earlier paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of the Bolgatanga Traditional Area, Naba Martin Abilba II, at his palace to introduce himself to the chief and to ask for his support to run the region.

He explained that though the constitution of the country states that chiefs should not be involved in active partisan politics, as partners in development they were to collaborate with government to develop the country.

He, therefore, appealed to the Bolga-Naba as "father of the region," to assist him with his rich wisdom in running the region. He commended the paramount chief for helping his predecessors in steering the affairs of the region, which had brought much development to the area. Naba Abilba on his part congratulated the Regional Minister on his appointment and promised to rally behind him for the total development of the region.

The Paramount Chief observed that the region had been an oasis of peace and appealed to other regions to emulate the examples of the area, since without peace no development could take place.