The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, has inaugurated the re-constituted Board of Directors of the Central Region Development Commission (CEDECOM) in Cape Coast. 

The minister, at the inauguration, charged the board to prioritize investment in the private sector for accelerated development.  

The seven-member board includes the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Dr. Kodjo Esseim Mensah-Abrampa; President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefo Amoakwa Boadu VIII; Head of Service, Office of the Head of the Local Government Service; and Prof. Rosemond Boohene, Pro Vice Chancellor, University of Cape Coast (UCC).  

The rest are Mr. Timothy Oman, Regional Development Planning Officer, Central Regional Coordinating Council; Mr. John Doku, Regional Trade Officer, Ministry of Trade & Industry; and Mrs. Nicole Ama Abraham, Ag. Executive Director, CEDECOM.  

The individuals who possess a great wealth of experience in private sector development, international development partnership and finance, were sworn in by a Judge of the High Court in Cape Coast Justice Kofi Diaba, at a brief ceremony on Thursday.  

They are expected to steer the affairs of the Commission for the next four years.  

The Regional minister urged them to embark on a vigorous investment promotion to promote major private economic ventures in the region.    

She indicated that there was adequate reserve of private investment capital from both domestic and foreign sources, but it was highly competitive between and within countries.  

She intimated that for the region to become more competitive to attract large scale private investment, she said there was the need to create an enabling environment.  

“Perhaps one way of doing this, is for you, in close collaboration with all the District Assemblies, to come out with an investment code, especially to provide additional incentives to investors to reflect our region’s uniqueness.  

“I charge you to examine this proposal in further detail and come out with appropriate recommendations for consideration by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC). 

Justina Marigold Assan stated that there was the need to embark on an aggressive marketing strategy towards carefully mapped out segments to stimulate response for investment from the variety of sources.  

“We should, for instance, aim at tapping the investment potentials of various occupational groups in the region,” she said.  

She also charged CEDECOM to collaborate with other regions in areas of mutual interests if the Central Region were to succeed in its developmental efforts.  

She added, “ it is my fervent prayer that you will join hands with management of the Council to complete our 2023 – 2030 Regional Development Strategy which is at its final stage in order to design a blueprint and strategies for our regional development agenda.” 

Mrs Assan expressed confidence in the board members to deliver their mandate to bring about this region’s economic advancement and transformation.  

The Head of Civil Service and member of the board, Dr Ato Arthur in his remarks, said the ‘waste will no longer remain waste” and that all resources available should be harnessed to aid the development of the country. 

The  President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs and a member of the board,  Odeefo Amoakwa Boadu,  thanked the RCC for reposing confidence in them and pledged to work closely with all relevant partners to move the region forward.  

“We are also counting all of you to help us succeed and maybe at the end of our term, we shall move our region a notch higher,” he assured. 

CEDECOM is the business and investment wing of the Central Regional and a developmental agency of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) which exists to promote sustainable development of the region through partnership with the private sector.