The Shama Traditional Council (STC) and people of Shama in the Western region have expressed their appreciation to the president, John Dramani Mahama, for appointing Emelia Arthur as Minister for Fisheries and Acqua-culture.
The minister has since been approved by parliament and sworn into office.
Thanking the president for the appointment, the chiefs were excited that their daughter hadbeen appointment for a cabinet position.
Addressing a press conference in Shama, Acting president of Shama Traditional Council (STC), Nana Kwmina Wienu III, explained that this is the first time Shama has been given a cabinet Minister in government.
He admitted that though Shama had a daughter who served as deputy Minister in the erstwhile John Agyekum Kuffour government, it (Shama) has never had an indigene(male or female) as a cabinet Minister, until the appointment and approval of Emelia Arthur.
“We want to use this opportunity to thank the president for recognising Shama with this appointment. We are very grateful to the president for the honour done Shama”.
Nana Kwamina Wienu, who believes strongly that the Minister would not disappoint, extolled the competence of Emelia Arthur, expressing the hope that her appointment would open the gate for others in the region.
The STC Acting President, however, used the occasion to remind the president to honour a proposal on the drawing board, which is to build a Fishing harbour for Shama.
According to Nana Kwamina Wienu, the past government had promised to build Shama a befitting Fishing Harbour.
As a result, the project was on the drawing board with land already acquired and secured for the project.
In that direction, he appealed to the sitting president to liaise with the STC on the proposed fishing Harbour project.
“Given that the project is already on the drawing board, we will wish that the president, through his Minister, will visit the project”.
He said, the proposed Fishing Harbour is dear to the heart of the chiefs and people of Shama.
When built Nana Wienu indicated would create employment opportunities for the youth of the area.
Present at the press conference included Nana Akosua Gyamfiaba III, Acting Queenmother of STC, Nana Kofi Bekoe, Chief of Anto, Nana Kofi Awuah V, chief of Essamang and many others.
