January 9, 2007 (Gambella) - Activities undertaken in good governance and capacity building sectors in Gambella State during the past six months have registered encouraging results, chief administrator of the state said.

In a report he presented to the extraordinary conference of the state council yesterday, Umod Ubang said the activities aimed at maintaining good governance and building capacity in the state have registered encouraging results.

Umed said in particular, regional, zonal and woreda management bodies have held constructive discussions with their counterparts in Puchala state of Sudan with a view to maintaining sustainable peace and speeding up on going development and good governance in the state.

He said members of Agnwak nationalities, who migrated to Sudan due to the conflict that occurred two years back, were enabled to return to their villages.

Umed said a short-term training has been offered to over 2,000 employees with a view to curbing skilled manpower shortage and the problem of implementation capacity in the state.

He said more than 2,800 professionals have been attending a certificate, diploma, first degree and second degree level training in higher learning institutions.

Umed said activities carried out to prevent HIV and malaria have registered encouraging results in the health sector.

He said project implementation and other related sectors was unsatisfactory.

The conference would hear a five-year strategic plan and a half year performance reports of the Supreme Court and Audit Bureau as well as discuss other agendas in yesterday's afternoon session.

Elders, religious leaders, zonal and woreda management bodies including council members have been in attendance of the conference.