GJA, MPs, Chiefs, Businessmen discuss how to develop Western Region

The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Western region branch, has held a public forum that brought together key stakeholders to brainstorm on the development agenda for the region.

Dubbed – “Western Region Development Dialogue”, the initiative brought together Chiefs, Businessmen, Members of Parliament (MPs) and Assembly Members amongst others to brainstorm on the way forward for the development of the Western Region.
The one-day forum was on the theme – “redefining the developmental agenda: Collaborative Strategies for the Sustainable Growth of the Western Region”.

The programme was sponsored by the Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI/FCIL).
Opening the forum, the Chairman of the Western Region GJA, Desmond Cudjoe, indicated that the dialogue was a clarion call to redefine priorities through collaboration.

“As journalists, we serve as society’s watchdogs and bridges – connecting policymakers, communities and stakeholders”.

To that end, the forum embodied GJA commitment to fostering unity among the Regional Minister, MPs, CSOs, traditional authorities and the people to co-create solutions.
The mission of the dialogue, he pointed out, was“to refocus development priorities, align strategies with the pressing needs of our communities – from infrastructure gaps to environmental sustainability.”

He expressed the hope that the dialogue would ignite a spirit of shared responsibility. The Western Region’s potentials, according to the GJA Chairman was boundless but only through unity that it could be unlocked.

Joseph Cudjoe, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Efia and former Minister in charge of public sector highlighted the resource available in the region.
Given the rich resource of the region, Joseph Cudjoe indicated that Ghana would continue to see the region as a resource, but might not develop because those at the table distributing the resource allocation might not from the region.

So it was important the region stop complaining about the lack of development and rather protest.“Stop complaining and take action that will put our people at top places”.
He explained what he meant by protest not to mean rioting and demonstrating.But protest in the form of dialoguing for ideas, call for opportunities and call for rebuilding of facilities amongst many others.

The Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, Phillip Fiifi Buckman, asked whether or not the region had a development agenda.“If we have and it has been adulterated then we have to redefine it”.

He told the forum that the challenge facing the region thwarting its development was self-centred attitude.“We think about ourselves alone and not the generality of our people”.
As a parliamentarian, Phillip Fiifi Buckman assured the forum that the MPs in the region had resolved to support every move for the development of the region.

Other speakers at the day’s forum included; Dr. Richard Gyimah, Ag. Exec Director Timber Industry Development Division (TIDD) of the Forestry Commission; Wilson Arthur, CEO of Skyy Power FM, a local radio station andAngamtuo Gyan, Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area amongst many others.

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