“If I succeeded as Regional Minister in the Upper West Region, I think my biggest trump card is that I recognised that I needed to work with everyone in every sector, and yet I faced opposition within my own party, but I have no regrets. I think that that is the most important tool I used in succeeding.”
Professor Ephraim Avea Nsoh, a former Upper East and Upper West Regional Minister said this when he spoke on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East Show with Mark Smith.
Professor Avea Nsoh, recalled with fond memories his time as regional minister. He explained that for regional ministers to succeed, there has to be proper collaboration with all the stakeholders.
The former Upper West Regional Minister added that after the collaboration, a framework would have to be developed to guide the development.
“When the people agree to work together, then you would need to develop a framework for us—a vehicle for us to develop the place. We developed the Upper East Regional Strategic Plan. Everybody came on board for this: the media, the police, the fire service, the clergy, the chiefs, and the experts as well.”
Professor Avea Nsoh explained that during the formulation, he faced stiff opposition from members of his own party.
“Bringing in the experts is where I faced opposition from my own party. They didn’t understand why I would add people they call their opponents into the plan. I didn’t care where you came from. I knew that the region would take the benefit and my party would take a benefit no matter who I was working with. We brought everyone on board, and that was the single most important thing I did.”
Additionally, Professor Avea Nsoh explained that to get the plan working, he had to understand the people “and identify with them. You don’t just mobilise the people to work for the people as a region and then put all those people on a development vehicle like the regional development strategy without identifying with the people. For instance, I refused to be directed to by letters that came from outside the region. I did what was best for the people.”
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
