The Eastern Region Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong, has asked the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference to pray for an end to the economic crises and environmental devastation facing the country.
“I, therefore, wish to use this opportunity to request you to pray for Mother Ghana to take us out of these undesirable situation of economic hardship and destruction of the environment. Let us pray that our natural resources would be preserved for posterity.”
He spoke at the 2022 Plenary Assembly of the Conference at the Donkorkrom Vicariate on Monday, November 7.
He assured of government’s commitment to explore all other workable avenues and solutions to deal with the current economic difficulties of rising inflation, depreciation of the Cedi and increasing general cost of living.
“We all know that the country is currently going through economic crisis largely occasioned by external factors. However, the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his address to the nation on Sunday, 30th October, 2022, outlined some pragmatic measures being implemented by government to ameliorate the suffering Ghanaians are going through. It also behoves on the citizenry, including you and I, to do our part for our benefit.”
On the issue of galamsey, he commended the clergy and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference for their support against the fight.
“The topical environmental issue of galamsey, I am particularly happy about the zeal with which religious bodies have joined the fight against the menace. I strongly believe that the advocacy and the determination to make the illegal mining issue a priority in the country with all stakeholders, including Traditional Authorities, the media and political forces coming on board, is a good step towards winning the fight.
“The assurance is that government will not stop the fight against illegal mining and, therefore, the continuous support of everyone gathered here today, is also needed.”
Two issues were of concern to the Donkorkrom Vicariate Bishop, Most Rev. John Alphonse Asiedu ,SVD: the need for the University Campus and the fixing of the deplorable Afram plains Road.
In his reaction to this, the regional minister said plans are advanced to fix the road while the satellite campus for the Kwahu Afram Plains area would remain.
“I had a vivid account this morning, people were pointing to us to take note of the poor nature of the road. I understand them. It behoves on us as leaders to demonstrate leadership to them. Government has secured loan for the 3-kilometre bridge from Ekye to Adawso. It is going through what we call value for money audit.”
He added: “The news is that the new facility that is being built at Bunso is rather a University of Engineering and Agricultural Science. So, it is not going to be a satellite for the University of Environment and Sustainable Development anymore. That has been changed. We are going to have a satellite campus here, other than that we are going to make the people of Afram Plains not really happy.”
By Yvonne Neequaye|3news.com|Ghana