Wa, May 29, GNA - A traditional ruler in the Upper West Region has said even though the region was endowed with human and materials resources, its qualified personnel had gone out looking for greener pastures and left it in a bad state.

Naa Sohimwiniye Danah Gore II, Paramount Chief of the Dorimon Traditional Area, called on citizens of the region not to forget the region but to come back and play their effective roles in its development.

He said it would not be in the best interest of the people to see professionals who hail from the region deny it the opportunity to develop and take a centre stage to reduce poverty. Naa Gore was speaking at the opening of an investment fair and cook art forum organised to mark the silver jubilee celebrations of the Upper West Region on Wednesday.

He appealed to the people to use the celebrations to partner the government and other international development agencies to invest in the sheanut industry.

Naa Gore called on investors to see how best they could process the local dawadawa for expert. Steps must also be taken to construct more dams to enhance fish farming, livestock rearing and food crops production. The Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. George Hika Benson, said there was no doubt that the region was endowed with natural and human resources but expressed regret that these resources had not been exploited.

He said efforts at exploiting these resources had not been given attention while the region is wallowing in deprivation and poverty. Mr. Benson mentioned smock weaving, xylophone manufacturing and sheabutter extraction as some of the economic activities of the people that needed international support. He said the region was also has tourists attractions, arable land and clay as well as natural resources including gold that were not yet exploited.

He called on the district assemblies in the region to collaborate with other development partners to develop resources in the districts to increase revenue to enable them to undertake more development projects. Mr. Benson called on investors to advantage of the peaceful nature of the region to invest to increase the economic conditions of the people. Locally woven smocks, xylophones, tie and dye, decorated calabashes and cooked food were exhibited at the forum. Some chop bar operators who distinguished themselves were awarded certificates and cash.