It is my pleasant duty to welcome the President and his Entourage to the Western Region for this august gathering.

On behalf of the chiefs and people of the Western Region, I warmly welcome the President, the Vice President, and Members of the Council of State, Ministers of State, Parliamentarians, our traditional Leaders and all dignitaries.

I thank His Excellency the President for giving this Region the honour of hosting the last edition of the People’s Assembly. He who laughs last, laugh best; that is the old adage. I expect that we are going to be treated to a very interesting, fruitful and memorable People’s Assembly. After all, who does not know that the best is in the west?

We are aware that the People’s Assembly concept is an innovation of the NPP Government under the leadership of President Kufuor. It is to avail the ordinary People who

Otherwise may not have the opportunity to interact with the President; make inputs into the government policy and at the same time offer a feedback system to government policies and programmes. It has a measure to deepen democracy and enhance good governance.

I wish to appeal to those who would want to ask questions to address issues that will help move our region and country forward.

Mr President, I cannot let this opportunity pass without expressing my gratitude and that of the region to your government for all the development interventions that have been made in the region in the seven years of your administration.

Those who know the Western Region very well can testify to the horrible state of roads before you took office. Though we cannot say that the road sector is without problems; major strides have been made and this needs to be acknowledged.

Let me quickly mention the following:
 Rehabilitation of Sefwi Wiaso Benchima Junction
Road – 50Km is 72% complete.
 Rehabilitation of Axim Junction- Tarkwa Road is now 100 percent complete and repair works are ongoing.
 Resealing of town roads (Axim, Bibiani, Prestea, Princess Town and Juaboso).
 Just yesterday, you cut the sod for the commencement of the construction of Enchi- Asankraqwa Road (56km).

Routine maintenance of both trunk and feeder roads has been stepped up. Again, the decision to surface dress feeder roads in cocoa growing areas has become a reality and five projects totalling 33 kilometres have been approved and contractors will commence work soon.

The Region has also benefited from the three major interventions of your government aimed at improving the quality of life of vulnerable people. These are the Capitation Grant, Feeding Programme and the National Youth Employment Programme.
As at September 2007, the Region had received an amount of GHC1.16 million. Sixty-seven basic schools are now benefiting from the school feeding programme. Since the introduction of the first two interventions, school enrolment has increased from 108,429 to 123,105 at the kindergarten level; 283,631 to 299,067 (5.8%) at the primary level and
91,970 to 97,227 (5.7%) at the junior high school level.

Your Excellency, as we position ourselves to host Ghana2008; I cannot but commend your government for the state of the art Sports Stadium at Sekondi which you graciously commissioned last Sunday. Going along with it are four training pitches of international standard.

The Takoradi Airport has also been rehabilitated and expanded and it is now capable of taking bigger planes. We of the Western Region shall forever be grateful to you for the infrastructural development we have witnessed during your tenure of office.

I am also happy to note that National Youth Employment scheme is operational in all the Districts in the Region and so far 8,434 people have benefited from the programme.

The Microfinance Small Loans Programme introduced by the NPP Government to assist people increase their income level and in consequence improve their quality of life has now arrived in Western Region. As at today, a total of 8,992 people in five of the constituencies in the region (Effia Kwesimintim, Essikado-Ketan, Takoradi, Shama and Sekondi) have received a total amount of GHC3, 860, 00.

The National Health Insurance Scheme is operational and has brought a lot of relief to our people. As at June 2007,821,243 people had subscribed to the scheme representing 37%. District such as Ahanta West, Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai and Wassa West had achieved coverage between 50-66 percent.

We also appreciate the government’s efforts improving energy requirements in the Region as reflected in 2008 Budget Statement to construct mini dams on Pra, Tan and Ankobra Rivers. Just last week, a team of expert accompanied by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning visited the sites.

Your Excellency, all major stakeholders in the Region are prepared to play their various roles to ensure an accelerated development of the Region.

I wish to appeal to your Excellency the President to grant this Region some special interventions as contained in the Development Blueprint presented to you during the latter part of last year.

The successful adoption our growth strategy and development imperatives contained in the Blueprint will not only be an exclusive benefit to the Region, but also propel the country into realizing our objective of achieving middle-income status in 2015.

Your Excellency, Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen’ once again, we welcome you to Western Region and to the Twin-City of Sekondi-Takoradi and wish you a happy stay.

Thank you.