NOTWITHSTANDING the fact that the Western Region leads in the production of some cash crops, minerals and farm produce in the country, there are numerous investment potentials in the region which are yet to be harnessed.
The region could be described as the region that holds the key to Ghana’s development, in view of its substantial natural endowment.
The recent oil find has in no small way accentuated this assertion.
The region can also boast of being endowed with minerals such as gold, manganese, bauxite, in addition to a variety of timber species, forest reserves, rivers and an extensive coastline.
Some of these potentials are being harnessed for the socio-economic development of the region while other numerous investment potentials exist but have not been harnessed.
The region tops in the production of cocoa, rubber and coconut and has areas that are suitable for oil palm production. It actually ranks second in oil palm production in the country.
The region’s rich minerals, notably gold, diamond, manganese and bauxite are being harnessed but not fully, to provide the needed job opportunities for the people.
Its unharnessed potential investment areas include clay and limestone deposits at Nawuli, near Half Assini in the Jomoro District, with proven reserves at 21 million tonnes.
The region also has salt in commercial quantities along the coast, especially at Adjoa, Apowa, Amanfu-Kumah and Funko, all in the Ahanta West District.
Kaolin, bauxite, diamond and gold exist in commercial quantities in the Wassa Amenfi East District while Princess Town in the Ahanta West District has industrial granites that have not been exploited.
There are large gold deposits at Akoti, Akontombra and Sefwi Wiawso and also along the banks of the Tano River.
The Western Region has silica, kaolin, gold, sand and stone deposits in commercial quantities in the Nzema East District.
The iron deposit at Oppong-Manso/Valley in the Wassa Amenfi East District covers a distance of about 24 square miles, and that is yet to be exploited, while alluvial gold deposits are in the Tano River.
There are untapped mineral deposits such as gold and bauxite at Breman and Sayerano in the Juaboso District, while inland oil exists in commercial quantities at Sayerano, Krokosue and Karmas in the Juaboso District as well as in Alluwule in the Jomoro District.
In a presentation made on his behalf at an oil seminar in Takoradi, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Paul Evans Aidoo, said royalties from the oil find must be judiciously invested in transport and other sectors to provide jobs and ensure the necessary development in the region.
Speaking on the topic: “The Western Region: An overview”, Mr Aidoo mentioned vibrant sources of hydro energy potentials in the region as the rivers Pra, Tano, Ankobra and Bia.
He said feasibility studies had been carried out on the rivers to ascertain their viability.
Mr Aidoo said the Aboso Glass, Factory could be developed to produce various products from glass while the Bonsa Tyre Factory, which is being divested, could be resuscitated to enable it re-tread used tyres and provide jobs.
“It is my belief that the substantial harnessing of the above potentials will propel Western Region to advance to the level of development, which could make it the industrial hub of the country”, he stressed.
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