Outgoing Upper East Regional Minister Mark Woyongo says his nomination as Defense Minister is an elevation. He believed the President saw the good work he did as his representative in a volatile region like the Upper East Region. The region is undoubtedly the most conflict prone region in the country. It gained notoriety in the country because of the Bawku conflict. Mark Woyongo said his new task is a challenging one but he is convinced he would make it. Mr. Woyongo played a crucial role in restoring calm there. So far he is the second outgoing regional minister to have been given a “national role” after outgoing Upper West regional minister. "I have been working for the last four years as Regional Minister and I guess people have been appraising my performance and I think that would have informed the decision of his Excellency the President, to give me this assignment’ he told Joy News. The outgoing Upper East Regional Minister pledged to use all the stakeholders at his new designation and work with all of them, to move the Ministry forward. He thanked the President for handling him this new portfolio.