Bolgatanga, Sept. 4, GNA - Mr Mahami Salifu, Upper East Regional Minister, on Wednesday said there was an urgent need to improve upon the strategies and programmes being used to carry out development in the Region.

He said investments made by district assemblies on infrastructure and other social programmes to address development problems have not achieved much, adding: "We need to reform our strategies if our Region is to move away from its present situation, where poverty is still prevalent in the midst of tremendous potentials."

Mr Salifu said this when he opened a three-day workshop on Population and Development Advocacy held in Bolgatanga under the theme: "Promoting Effective Policies For Sustainable Development, The Role of Regional And District Authorities."

Its main purpose is to promote an enabling policy and advocacy environment in the Region for sustainable development.

The Regional Minister said his office had directed district assemblies in the Region to create separate budget for District Population Advisory Committee activities and to give priority attention to HIV/AIDS and other social sector problems.

Mr Salifu called on district assemblies, non-governmental organisations and government departments to support the Upper East initiative to tackle population and development issues.

Mr Sylvester Aganmikre, Regional Population Officer, explained that the workshop would provide the opportunity for participants to discuss the extent to which district development plans have factored in social sector activities as a means to address poverty.

He said strategies would also be formulated for the implementation of development programmes and the appropriate structures put up for monitoring and co-ordinating the implementation of social sector programmes.

Mr Sumaila Abdul-Rahman, Programme Manager of Action Aid Ghana (AAG), said it has a common vision to collaborate with local authorities to eradicate poverty.