Sekondi, Feb. 6 -GNA-Mr. Anthony Evans Amoah, Western Regional Minister, on Tuesday announced that the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) would come out with a blueprint for the development of the region before the end of the year.

Speaking at a Peoples' Assembly at Sekondi, he said all the 13 districts, as well as the business community and Chiefs in the region would make inputs for the formulation of the blueprint. Mr. Amoah advised the people to support the efforts of the RCC and the government to develop the region.

He said one man alone cannot develop the region and that development is a collective responsibility.

Mr. Amoah expressed concern about the late start of the assembly because many people did not turn up on time.

He urged people in the area to show interest in government programmes and development activities of the Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly (SAEMA).

Mr. Emmanuel Ghansah, a former employee of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) told the assembly he was among a large number of workers of the company recently laid-off.

He said, he and his colleagues have been paid 50 per cent of their end-of-service benefits and are finding it difficult to get the company to pay the remaining amount.

Mr. Ghansah appealed to the government to help them get the rest of their entitlements.

Papa Owusu Ankomah, Minister of Education and Sports, who responded to the appeal, said the GRC does not earn enough in a month to pay its workers and to pay the entitlements of the laid-off workers. He said the government is still looking for investors for the company to replace obsolete machinery of the company.

Papa Ankomah assured the laid-off workers that their end-of-service would be paid to them.

Speakers at the function included Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries and Mr. Kwesi Nkrumah, Metropolitan Chief Executive. 06 Feb. 07