COA BOSS CHALLENGES LEADERSHIP IN THE CENTRAL REGION TO CARVE A NEW IDENTITY FOR THE REGION.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The COA Research and Manufacturing Company Limited, Professor Samuel Ato Duncan has called on industry players in the central region to stop leaving on past glory, create a new identity, establish partnerships and encourage growth in all the areas where it has a competitive advantage.

Professor Duncan made this call at the opening ceremony of the Central Trade Expo organised by the Central Regional Coordinating Council to showcase the investment potentials of the region.

According to Professor Duncan, the Central Region presently has a lot of small and medium scale industries that have the potential to scale up when given the necessary support. Unfortunately, most of these businesses do not have what it takes to survive in an environment in which we find ourselves. As a result, those who could not endure, usually fold up, thereby denying the region the needed revenue.

Recounting his COA journey thus far, Professor Duncan noted that he begun the production from a small kitchen with a few family members who were not even on salaries. He observed that with time, the Company has evolved to become one of the most distinguished industries in the region with a staff strength of 200.

“The journey has not been easy. In order to ensure that we provide quality and efficacious medicine for the consuming public, it is required that we adopt research, Standard Operating Procedures and Good Manufacturing Processes that are globally acceptable in our production processes. We also need to employ skilled labour, scientists and other relevant consultants to aid these processes. Also, we require fully automated machinery to be able to meet production requirements, he said.

He therefore expressed his gratitude to the Central Regional Minister and the Planning Committee for reviving the Central Trade Expo. He entreated the committee to conduct a post-expo review and ensure that the successes are replicated in subsequent editions.

He welcomed the new leadership approach to development in the region while encouraging them to become ambassadors of the various businesses in the region.

The Central Regional Minister, Mrs Justina Marigold Assan noted that the rationale behind the expo is to create a strong synergy between the public and the private sector. “The vision is to stimulate economic activity in all parts of the region and beyond; harness economic potentials; and to focus on the development of agro-business, “she said.

The Minister emphasised governments commitment to the promotion of domestic tourism to attract private sector investment into the region to transform the local economy.

She expressed her gratitude to the Planning Committee, Regional House of Chiefs, MMDCEs. Consultants, Partners, Sponsors, Exhibitors, Media and all who have contributed in diverse ways in support of the vision to create economic opportunities and industrialization in the region.

The President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, Odeefuo Amoakwa Buadu VIII, applauded the transformative agenda by the Regional Minister and pledged the support of the Regional House Chiefs in consolidating the gains made thus far.

For his part, the Deputy Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Hon. Mark Okraku Mantey hinted that the ministry will create a linkage between the region and diaspora as well as add value to tourist sites in the region to attract more tourists and investors.