Essikado (W/R), Nov 8, GNA - Mr Anthony Evans Amoah, the Western Regional Minister, on Tuesday called on the private sector to create jobs for the youth in the region some of who are engaged in illegal mining and menial jobs.

He made the call when he visited the Ghana Cement Works (GHACEM) and the Takoradi Flour Mill at Takoradi and John Bitar Limited, a timber company, at Essikado near Sekondi.

Mr Amoah, who was accompanied by Mr Philip Kwesi Nkrumah, Shama-Ahanta East Metropolitan Chief Executive, said the private sector had a crucial role to play in job creation because the economy is now private sector driven.

He urged the private sector to take advantage of several government interventions to expand to enable them to create jobs. Mr Amoah said the Regional Coordinating Council would hold a business forum by the end of the year or early next year to find ways of moving the private sector forward.

Mr Graham Bell, Works Manager of GHACEM, said the company was doing everything possible to increase its output and improve the quality of its products to counteract competition from other cement companies. He said the company no longer had monopoly in the country's cement market but it welcomes competition "as long as it is being played on a level field".

Mr Bell said one of the mills at the factory would have to be shut down for about eight weeks for a damaged gearbox to be repaired. "This will affect production levels but is not likely to lead to increase in the price of cement or lay off of workers."

Mr Thierry Loupiac, the General Manager of Takoradi Flour Mill, said the company was building a new plant to boost production. The new plant would make it possible for the company to manufacture the type of flour used for the production of biscuits next year. Mr Loupiac said composite flour and other substitutes for flour and wheat have not been useful in the production of bread in the country. At John Bitar Limited, Mr Mohammed Jouni, the General Manager, said the company buys and sells only certified timber and timber products. He said many importers of timber products now demand certification that products were made from timber from well managed and sustainable forest and is helping to protect forest reserves.

Mr Steven Kwadwo Kangah, Forest Coordinator the company, said the company has embarked on forestation at the Biatawyo and Manzan degraded forest reserves in the Juabeso and Bia districts.

He said the company has also re-afforested 100 hectares of land at Akyempim.