Vice-President Bawumia commissioning the Fadama Astro Turf
The Akufo-Addo NPP government is committed to the development of the Zongo communities not the construction of mortuaries in Zongos, Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has fired.
He was speaking during the commissioning of the Osman Nuhu Sharabutu Sports Complex at New Fadama in Accra yesterday.
The occasion also marked the second edition of the Zongo for Peace and Development Conference.
“We are for the development of Zongos and the education of our children to the highest level possible. Our vision and focus is to make education the catalyst for Zongo development,” he said, adding, “We are not in the obnoxious business of giving rice and sugar or building mortuaries in Zongo communities. Mortuaries should remain in the hospitals, not in Zongo communities.”
Keeping Faith
The Vice-President said the government had kept faith with Muslim communities – a fact which he noted was evidenced in the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund (ZoDF).
The fund, he said, was intended to serve as a vehicle for development in the countrywide Zongo communities.
The President, according to him, went ahead to establish a Zongo Ministry, something he did not plan for when he made the promise for the creation of a development fund.
Zongo residents, he said, would definitely reciprocate the President’s gesture by voting for him.
“The construction of the Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu Sports Complex here in Fadama, as well as similar ones in Madina, Oda Zongo, Kyebi Zongo, Walewale, Tafo Zongo and other places for Zongo youth is part of the broader vision of President Akufo-Addo to provide meaningful development for Zongo and inner cities through the Ministry of Zongo and Inner Cities Development and the Zongo Development Fund,” he said.
Zongos Potential
He observed that development of Zongos within the context of social and economic policies had largely been absent over the years, therefore depriving such communities of needed social interventions that would engender poverty alleviation and social development.
The Vice-President said, “Politicians for the most part through our history only saw Zongos as a place for giving rice and sugar on occasions, and the youth as instruments for violence during elections.”
He said the fulfilment of the ZoDF by President Akufo-Addo, “Are historic feats, which have never happened under any government since independence,” adding “statutory funds are provided for Zongo development under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo.”
Zongo Projects
He said the fund had supported the building and rehabilitation of access roads, bridges, drainage systems, clinics, chip compounds, toilets and water systems in several Zongo communities in all sixteen regions and the construction classrooms were at various stages of completion in many Zongo communities including Amenfi, Manso, Bogoso, Agogo, Prestea Huni Valley, Nsuaem, Barekese, Parkoso, Sawaba, Abofour, Offinso, Otaakrom, Adeiso, Tolon, Goyir and Sambo.
He said 44 Zongo girls were currently studying medicine in Cuba under full government scholarship, adding that next year another batch would be selected.
Zongo communities as the most deprived in the country were the biggest beneficiaries of the Akufo-Addo flagship educational programme, Free SHS, Vice-President Bawumia said.
“As the nation goes to the polls in less than two weeks, I wish to appeal to my fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters in the various Zongo communities to support President Akufo-Addo and I because we have shown that we can be trusted,” he said.
By Issah Mohammed