Routine unannounced visits embarked upon to Ministries and Departments by Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh, Upper-East Regional Minister, has drastically reduced absenteeism and lateness to work by some workers in the region.

Speaking to newsmen in Bolgatanga on Monday, Dr Nsoh explained that his routine unannounced visits was not intended to put fears into workers, but to let them know that he appreciated their efforts, and to spur them to work harder to improve the economy.

Dr Nsoh was the Upper-West Regional Minister, and was re-assigned to the Upper-East about a month ago.

He added that such visits were also aimed at getting the workers along with him to work hard together, to accelerate the pace of development in the region, and to also make them account for their stewardship.

Besides, according to the Minister, the heads of department, meet him in turns every week to brief him on their activities and the challenges confronting them, and stated that one of the areas he intended to tackle was the issue of sanitation that had engulfed the region, adding that proactive measures have been identified to make the region zero tolerance to poor sanitation practices.

Dr Nsoh warned that his administration would not tolerate any government institution that misused, misappropriated or diverted funds from donors meant for the development of the Region.

He decried poor planning activities undertaken by some institutions in the region, and said they did not auger well for effective development in the region.

The Regional Minister cited the invasion by individuals with kiosks in the streets of Bolgatanga, stressing it is the responsibility of the Lands Commission to stop such acts, but it went ahead and granted permits to people to mount kiosks.

He warned government officials who engaged in such negative acts to stop, and said the Regional Coordinating Council would not countenance such intolerable acts because it totally disarrayed proper planning of the region.

According to the Minister, it was part of his vision to organize Regional and District Town Hall Meeting,s including durbars, to solicit the views and inputs of people from the grassroots, and to explain government programmes and policies to them..

All the Municipal and District Chief Executives would be tasked to build their substructures effectively, to ensure good governance at the grassroots. Dr Nsoh stated.

GNA