Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah Ashanti Regional Minister designate has pledged to use a bi-partisan team in realising the development aspirations of the Ashanti region. "My strategy is to put all stake holders; the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Members of Parliament, traditional rulers and other identifiable groups for the development of the region," he said. He said: "I will hold the stake holders in constant interaction," and added "we cannot develop without their efforts." Addressing the Parliamentary Appointment Committee in Accra on Thursday, Dr Agyemang-Mensah said he would strictly apply the rules to ensure justice for every one irrespective of his or her political affiliation. "A criminal is a criminal whether NDC or NPP, anyone who does wrong will face the full rigours of the law", adding, "I will be the Regional Minister for all." He noted that health services and water provision were not the best in the region and pledged to use his position to solve these problems. He said though the Ashanti region had the highest number of districts, he would adopt decentralisation process to reach all them. Asked how he would manage a region that had his party in minority, he said he would be guided by the laws of the country not the interest of any group. Dr Agyemang-Mensah said to make development acceptable to the local people; they must be involved in the planning, execution and management of all projects. He stated that the chieftaincy rivalry between the Ashanti region and the Brong Ahafo region would be brought to a minimum as he would hold the chiefs from the two regions into constant interaction to find solutions to these problems. On tourism, he noted that Lake Bosomtwe was the only lake in Ashanti region which according to him, had been heavily polluted but promised to raise it to a first class tourist attraction. According to him, the region was replete of foot soldiers and militant groups of various political parties but said he would adopt dialogue and peaceful means to bring them together. He said the economic progress of the region would depend largely on adding value to agricultural products. Asked how he would solve the 21 century squatter settlements emerging in the Ashanti region, and other identifiable groups, he said he would liaise with the chiefs and other traditional rulers to bring the situation under control. Source: GNA