The Founder of the African University of Communica­tions and Business (AUCB), Kojo Yankah, has called on the people in the Central Region to adopt coordinated structures in harnessing resources in the region for the required transformation and development."Like most parts in Ghana, the region has enormous po­tential which, if well harnessed, can change the fortunes of the people and raise further the standards of living position in Ghana's economic surveys," he said.Mr Yankah, who is also a for­mer Central Regional Minister, made the call at the opening of this year's Central Regional Investment, Trade, and Tour­ism Fair, dubbed" Central EXPO'25".The eight-day event, which is drawing business within and outside the region, is on the theme, "Unlocking Business Opportunities in the Central Region."Mr Yankah explained that, indigenes of the Central region had no reason to complain about the rate of development if they failed to utilise and har­ness the vast resources available in the area."What matters is that we must harness the resources for the benefit of the people in the region" he indicatedMr Yankah indicated that, the educational system had de­prived Ghanaians of even iden­tifying indigenous knowledge in the processing and identifying of the resources in the region and the country at large.He urged organisers of the event to involve all stakeholders in planning and organising sim­ilar events at the district level, explaining that such events should not be centered at the regional capital alone.The President of the Cen­tral Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Boadu VIII, in his remarks, acknowl­edged the enormous contri­bution of the region to the development of the country.He indicated that, the chal­lenge facing the region was how to harness the various resources that would propel its develop­ment in line with the national development agenda.He, therefore, called on all stakeholders to ensure the effective development of the region and said that the central Regional House of Chiefs was collating all lands within the region to ensure problem-free access to land by investors."The House is working with the central Regional Develop­ment Commission (CEDE­COM) to ensure that we have land banks in the Central region so that when investors come, they know exactly where to go for land," he said.Odeefuo Amoakwa Boa­du VIII further said that the Regional House of Chiefs was working to strengthen the region's position as the premier hub of tourism in Ghana.The Central Regional Min­ister, Ekow Panyin Eduamoah Okyere, in his address, noted that the EXPO, which would be run on a 24-hour basis, was in line with the government's 24- hour policy to boost investment and trading activities.He indicated that the event was also being organised as a prelude to the annual Fetu Afahye celebration of the chiefs and people of the Oguaa Tradi­tional Area. FROM DAVID O.

YAR­BOI-TETTEH, CAPE COAST