The new Central Regional Minister, Mr. Enoch Kweku Teye Addo, said on Monday that his vision was to work assiduously curb poverty which had become a "vicious canker" among the people of the Central Region.
He expressed dismay that despite the vast natural resources that abound in the Region that could be utilized to propel its development, it had been ranked the third poorest in the country.
Mr. Addo said this during his maiden meeting with journalists at the Central Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Cape Coast.
He said a lot had to be done to improve the current state of the Region because it could not afford to remain in that state.
Mr Addo said his vision was in line with that of President John Mahama which among others was to transform the country into a full-fledged middle-income country, provide quality and accessible education to every child and also create jobs for the people to reduce poverty.
He said it was surprising that the Region that has two acclaimed public universities and the best senior high schools has a 50 percent illiteracy rate whilst its economic status was nothing to write home about.
Mr Addo pledged to draw a strategic programme to put together the rich human resources available to help harness and develop the Region's natural resources to improve its economic and social status.
He said he believed this and quality education would ensure job creation and eventually lift the people out of poverty.
Mr. Addo gave the assurance that the construction of the Kotokuraba market and the Cape Coast Stadium were on course adding "I have come to work and not to make empty promises".