The Sekondi-Takoradi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (STCCI) has called on government to deliver the promised Western Corridor Development Authority, “to make the region a growth pole to enhance the country’s development.”
In a statement, Chairmen of the STCCI, Ato Van-Ess noted that the establishment of the Authority will enhance the livelihood of the people within the corridor in particular, and the country as whole.
The late president John Mills in a tour of the Western Region in 2009 promised the establishment of the Western Corridor Development Authority to facilitate accelerated development of the Western and Central regions. However, very little has been done since then in that regard.
[contextly_sidebar id=”mIpeRiE35NJpw218R6yjhTjvJfsLFaXw”]“Though the Western Region provides most of the country’s resources, development in the region has not been commensurate with its output. In fact, the UNDP’s Western Region Human Development report 2013, confirms this assertion when it states that “a feature of the Western Region is that for the past four decades the region’s contribution to the national gross output, wealth and value added has been significantly above its share in Ghana’s population and labour force.”
Sadly however, after more than four years of commercial production of oil, the western region still experiences the characteristic pattern of distorted growth and general under-development,” the statement noted.
The statement therefore called on the government to use the oil and gas industry to develop a petrochemical industry in the region and link it with other local industries to stimulate local industralisation, adding, Linking it to the local industry of the region is key because the region can derive both direct and indirect benefits, which will go a long way in boosting the lives of the people of the Western Region and beyond.
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By: Eugenia Tenkorang/citifmonline.com/Ghana