The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) says its commitment to the development of the Zongo community is underlined by the party’s record of development in the Zongo by the Kufuor and Akufo-Addo administrations.
At the launch of the Gaskiya Forum, a platform by the Bawumia For President 2024 National Zongo Campaign to engage Zongo stakeholders, the NPP accounted to the media and a number of stakeholders from the Zongo, including Chiefs, the party’s record.
“The Gaskiya Forum, as the name clearly depicts, is a forum by the Bawumia For President 2024 National Zongo Campaign for the presentation of facts and incontrovertible data. More importantly, it is also a platform we have created to account to the good people of Ghana, the stewardship of the NPP, as far as Zongo Development is concerned, and the way forward under the future of government of Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, from January 2025, in shaa Allah,” said Alhaji Ben Abdallah Banda, Presidential Coordinator for Zongo Development, who is also Chairman of the National Zongo Campaign for the Bawumia Campaign.
“Our Flagbearer and our party, believe that election should be about issues, data and records; not propaganda and insults. Therefore, the Gaakiya Forum presents a decent platform of engagement with stakeholders from the Zongo community,,” added Alhaji Banda, before highlighting details of the NPP’s “unmatched records” in the 4th Republic from the era of President Kufuor.
He said inspite of the NPP not receiving the kind of support the NDC got from the Zongo community, the Kufuor administration introduced the payment of allowances for Makaranta teachers nationwide, a policy he said the NDC “cruelly cancelled”.
“In fact, this happened (payment of allowances) despite Ghana being declared HIPC. It showed the commitment of the NPP to the development of Zongos through education.”
ZDF, THE BIGGEST GIFT TO THE ZONGO COMMUNITY
The Gaskiya Forum, said the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund by the Akufo-Addo government, represents the biggest gift to the people of Zongo, which he said, has delivered several projects to the Zongos.
“The NPP had a pact with the people of Zongo, to establish an historic, special purpose fund for the sustainable development of the Zongos, as promised in the manifesto. This has been fulfilled through the establishment of the Zongo Development Fund.”
“After assuming office in 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was committed and eager to immediately commence the NPP’s Zongo Development pact with the people of Zongo.”
“To start the processes which will lead to the enactment of the Zongo Development Fund Act by Parliament, the President established the Ministry for Zongo and Inner Cities, to initiate the process and also lead consultations with Zongo stakeholders for views towards the drafting of the Act. The Ministry was also tasked to start the immediate development of Zongos, which saw initial projects in some Zongos being undertaken by the Ministry of Zongo and Inner Cities.”
The Gaskiya Forum also explained the reasons behind the creation of the Zongo Ministry before its dissolution after the creation the Zongo Development Fund.
“Following the successful establishment of the Zongo Development Fund through Parliamentary Act, the dream of establishing an historic statutory vehicle for Zongo Development, had been achieved. Therefore, President Akufo-Addo disbanded the stop-gap ministry, which had completed its mission.”
IMPACT OF ZDF
Alhaji Banda gave an estensive account of the impact of the ZDF on Zongo communities in various sectors, especially education, where he said the Fund, envisioned by Vice President Bawumia, has had several interventions including construction of classroom blocks, tertiary grants and scholarships to brilliant but needy students from the Zongos.
“As envisaged by Dr. Bawumia, promised by the NPP and delivered by President Nana Akufo-Addo, the dream of a first ever state policy for the sustainable development of Zongo community was duly established with the creation of the Zongo Development Fund,” Alhaji Banda said.
“Thanks to the vision of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, which was graciously supported by President Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s national budget, for the first time in the history of the country, made an allocation to Zongo and inner-cities development in 2017, and has been so since then.”
“The impact of this policy on the development of many Zongo communities has been immense, with over 400 projects, 200 of which are completed in education, health, sanitation, security, sports, as well as support for entrepreneurship, vocational and technical training.”
EDUCATION
The Gaskiya Forum said the NPP government’s focus on education on the national front, has been replicated in the Zongos, hence the focus on expanding educational infrastructure and opportunities to young people in the Zongos.
“On the national front, our government’s focus and investment in education is unparalleled in the 4th Republic. In the Zongos, we have also prioritised and focused on education because we are well aware of what education does to less privileged people. Education develops the people and community. It enhances productivity, creativity, and technological advancement. In addition, it plays a crucial role in securing economic and social progress,” he said.
“The NPP, President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia believe that education is the greatest leveller. Therefore, the only sustainable way we can transform our Zongo communities is through the education of our children.
That is why, apart from the NPP’s national-focus free access to secondary education nationally and no payment of BECE and WASCEE exams fee, which the Zongo community has benefited significantly, we have, through the ZDF, invested heavily in expanding educational infrastructure in the Zongos.”
“So far, about 70 new classroom blocks have been completed, and several others renovated in various Zongos across the country. These are verifiable in each of the location provided. Again in education, we have built ICT libraries, given over 1000 tertiary education grants, distributed over 50,000 text books and 5000 desks.”
“Our commitment to the education of young people in Zongos, is also demonstrated by the scholarship offered to 40 brilliant but needy students drawn from the Zongos, to be trained as medical doctors in Cuba.
Unlike the NPP, the Gaskiya Forum said, the NDC did not implement any comprehensive educational programs for Zongos, comparable to the NPP’s “focused infrastructure expansion, mass international scholarship and Free SHS policy.”
“Under the NDC, schools in Zongo areas suffered from neglect, with many students dropping out due to the lack of financial support. It was only under the NPP’s leadership that the youth of Zongos have had unrestrained access to Free SHS, as well as scholarships and better learning infrastructure through the Zongo Development Fund.”
OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE & SUPPORT
For other infrastructure, the Gaskiya Forum said the Zongo Development Fund has also ensured the construction “access roads, bridges, health facilities, drainage and water systems and places of convenience”
In sports, the Forum said the NPP has constructed about 17 astro turfs in Zongo communities across the country.
In job creation, the Gaskiya Forum added that the Zongo Development Fund has supported market women and young entrepreneurs with grants, and also trained the youth in technical and vocation skills, as well as supported them with grants..
The Gaskiya Forum distribute brochures showing pictures of projects, their status as well as locations and asked all to verify.
It also projected a number of these projects and asked both the media and members of the Zongo community to also verify.
“These are verifiable projects that is why we have provided the locations. This is our record in the Zongos and we speak with facts and data.”
The Gaskiya Forum challenged the NDC to also show their record to the people of Zongo. However, Alhaji Ben Abdallah Banda was of the view that they won’t be able to do it because ”they have zero record of development record” in the Zongos.
KA
Watch the latest episode of #SayItLoud below:
