Kumasi, Feb. 22, GNA - Mr Kofi Opoku-Manu, immediate past Ashanti Regional Minister, has conveyed his sincere thanks to President John Evans Attah Mills for the opportunity given him to serve in his Government. He said he would forever remain grateful and pledged his continued loyalty and support.

Mr Opoku-Manu was speaking at a send-off party organized for him by th= e Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the Ashanti region= , in Kumasi. He said he was also humbled by the cooperation and understanding he enjoyed from particularly, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and said without this, it would have been difficult to achieve the progress made by the region within the last two years. He used the occasion to counsel the party's supporters to maintain a "rock solid front" and work hard to win over more voters. Mr Opoku-Manu said on his assumption of office in February 2008, he se= t for himself the goal of building a permanent regional office for the NDC in Kumasi and was happy that they have now acquired a plot of land for the purpose.

He appealed to his successor to work hard to ensure the take off and successful completion of the project. He also asked members and supporters of the party to contribute generously towards the implementation of the office building. Dr Kwaku Agyeman Mensah, the new Regional Minister, said he was confident the party and people in the region would extend to him the suppor= t they gave to his predecessor. He repeated his resolve to work hard to bring progress to the region and vowed that he would be fair to all.