President John Dramani Mahama has assured the chiefs and people of the Western Region of his desire to prioritise the region in his government’s development agenda for the country.

He said the Region had long been the bedrock of Ghana’s economy through its rich mineral wealth like gold, cocoa, rubber, oil and timber, and contributed immensely to the country’s growth.

“… And yet for far too long, it has not received its fair share of development, and this must change.

“I am here today to assure you that under my leadership as President of the Republic of Ghana, the Western Region will take its rightful place as a priority in Ghana’s development agenda.”

President Mahama gave the assurance during a durbar of chiefs and people of the Western Region, at Sekondi, to thank them for their overwhelming support given him in the 2024 general election.

The President said the great wealth of the region must translate into better roads, quality healthcare systems, improved education, job opportunities, and a better standard of living for the people.

He said: “Today, I stand before you not just as your President, but as a son of this great land of ours, Ghana, and as a leader who believes in the potential of our people, and as a servant who is ready to work tirelessly to ensure that the Western Region and Ghana as a whole move forward into a future of prosperity, dignity and progress.”

He continued: “We stand at the dawn of a new era, and Ghana is ready for a fresh start, and the Western Region is going to be at the forefront of this transformation.”

President Mahama, thus, called on the citizenry to support the government to rebuild the country and bring prosperity to all.

“We will move forward together with hope unity and determination, and the Western Region is the heartbeat of Ghana’s progress.

“Let us, therefore, rise together and build a future that is prosperous, that is just, fair and filled with opportunities for us all,” he stated.

On some of his plans for the region, President Mahama said the government would revamp and expand the cocoa sector in Western Region to support cocoa processing companies like WAMCO and other entities under the 24-hour Economy policy.

He noted that steps would also be taken to revive the oil and gas exploration and production, while completing all abandoned projects in the region.

“We will deliver on our promises, and I am hopeful that you will see tangible life-changing developments across the region soon, as part of my efforts to rebuild and reset our country,” President Mahama added.