TOWN HALL MEETING IN UE
TOWN HALL MEETING IN UE October 08 2009
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
I S D – BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Upper East regional minister, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and the president John Evan Atta Mills for establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, SADA to tackle the imbalances in development between the north and the south.
The regional minister gave the commendation in an address at the maiden town hall meeting held in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region. He noted that there are many wide disparities between the north and the south. For instance, the first school was established in 1737 in Cape Coast whilst that of the north began in Navrongo in 1907 indicating a gap of about 160 years between the former and the latter.
Honourable Woyongo said SADA will therefore address these disparities effectively through massive infrastructural development and focus on economic opportunities as the fundamental requirement that will trigger off the development of Upper East.
He said with regard to the deprived nature of the region, its 50th anniversary which comes off in September 2010 will be used to showcase the potentials embedded in the Upper East and consequently attract investors into the region. According to him, several correspondences have been sent to central government to improve the region’s roads, official bungalows and decentralised departments which have not seen renovation in decades.
Honourable Woyongo further indicated that government is rehabilitating dams at Vunania, Gambrongo, Gbeogo, Chiok and others to boost agric produce of farmers in the region. Also, 200 boreholes are to be dug to provide potable drinking water to communities under the Small Town Water and Sanitation Project.
He observed with worry the protracted Bawku conflict saying it is retarding the region’s efforts to break the poverty cycle and hoped the inter-ethnic peace council will pull all its members together to continue to dialogue for permanent solutions to the age old ethnic conflict.
The Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Mahama Ayariga in a presentation observed that countries all over the world have been looking for the best means of governance with the citizens’ voice as a guide to the choice of governance.
He disclosed that in the early in 1980s, the then PNDC government developed the concept of decentralisation as a means of involving the locals at the grassroots in the process of governance. Since its inception however, the concept has faced several challenges thus undergoing a number of reviews.
The presidential spokesman said the people’s assembly concept by the former administration was good but had wrong timing since it used to be held at year ending at which time people’s views and suggestions could not be fused into policy decisions taken by government.
Mr. Ayariga noted that even though the Tamale airport is not yet upgraded to international standards as promised by the Mills government, plans have been initiated to ensure that Muslim pilgrims will have a stress-free pilgrimage this year.
He stated that the town hall meeting concept by the NDC government is apt because it has excellent timing and affords a more open platform for deliberations between government and citizens. He pledged that the presidency will make follow-ups on all discussions at the various town hall meeting so as to be able to roll out productive and results-oriented policies that the citizens themselves have requested.
Earlier in a welcome address, Mr. D. J. Abang – Gos, Chairman of the town hall planning committee said the objective of the meeting is to deepen democracy and ensure transparency, accountability and good governance.
With time, the committee will extend the town hall meetings to the districts, communities and constituencies.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Epsona Harry Ayamga told the meeting that since the upgrading of the assembly to a municipal status, it has seen improvement in physical and socio-economic development amidst a myriad of challenges.
Honourable Ayamga said the municipality will continue to forge forward in development by vigorously mobilising available human and material resources for efficient implementation of programmes.
The MCE noted that development targets can only be met if people approach their duties with discipline, transparency and accountability. He said the needed motivation will come if these values are adhered to.
He further noted that last year witnessed aggressive political activities whilst the early part of this year also saw transitional arrangements leaving little time for the development agenda. He therefore acknowledged the support the municipality got from various development partners and NGOs such as Action Aid and the EU Micro projects programme.
On economic gains made by the assembly, Honourable Ayamga observed that a total of 251, 088.80 Ghanaian Cedis was collected by September 30, 2009 as against the projected target of GH¢ 206,820.00 indicating an improvement in revenue mobilisation.
He also pledged the municipality’s continuous assistance to physically challenged students and needy but brilliant students while extending the same support to sports development.
The MCE said there have been positive collaborations with Zoom Lion Ghana Limited, a waste management company in ensuring high sanitation standards but regretted that efforts geared towards sanitation are thwarted by indiscriminate disposal of refuse.
Issues including revamping of the Bolgatanga meat factory, rice mills and the setting of a national uniform price for cement came up during an open forum. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Woyongo responded saying the cost of cement will go down as soon as the Buipe Cement factory starts production in June 2010.
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM
I S D – BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Upper East regional minister, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo has commended the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and the president John Evan Atta Mills for establishing the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority, SADA to tackle the imbalances in development between the north and the south.
The regional minister gave the commendation in an address at the maiden town hall meeting held in Bolgatanga, capital of the Upper East Region. He noted that there are many wide disparities between the north and the south. For instance, the first school was established in 1737 in Cape Coast whilst that of the north began in Navrongo in 1907 indicating a gap of about 160 years between the former and the latter.
Honourable Woyongo said SADA will therefore address these disparities effectively through massive infrastructural development and focus on economic opportunities as the fundamental requirement that will trigger off the development of Upper East.
He said with regard to the deprived nature of the region, its 50th anniversary which comes off in September 2010 will be used to showcase the potentials embedded in the Upper East and consequently attract investors into the region. According to him, several correspondences have been sent to central government to improve the region’s roads, official bungalows and decentralised departments which have not seen renovation in decades.
Honourable Woyongo further indicated that government is rehabilitating dams at Vunania, Gambrongo, Gbeogo, Chiok and others to boost agric produce of farmers in the region. Also, 200 boreholes are to be dug to provide potable drinking water to communities under the Small Town Water and Sanitation Project.
He observed with worry the protracted Bawku conflict saying it is retarding the region’s efforts to break the poverty cycle and hoped the inter-ethnic peace council will pull all its members together to continue to dialogue for permanent solutions to the age old ethnic conflict.
The Presidential Spokesman, Mr. Mahama Ayariga in a presentation observed that countries all over the world have been looking for the best means of governance with the citizens’ voice as a guide to the choice of governance.
He disclosed that in the early in 1980s, the then PNDC government developed the concept of decentralisation as a means of involving the locals at the grassroots in the process of governance. Since its inception however, the concept has faced several challenges thus undergoing a number of reviews.
The presidential spokesman said the people’s assembly concept by the former administration was good but had wrong timing since it used to be held at year ending at which time people’s views and suggestions could not be fused into policy decisions taken by government.
Mr. Ayariga noted that even though the Tamale airport is not yet upgraded to international standards as promised by the Mills government, plans have been initiated to ensure that Muslim pilgrims will have a stress-free pilgrimage this year.
He stated that the town hall meeting concept by the NDC government is apt because it has excellent timing and affords a more open platform for deliberations between government and citizens. He pledged that the presidency will make follow-ups on all discussions at the various town hall meeting so as to be able to roll out productive and results-oriented policies that the citizens themselves have requested.
Earlier in a welcome address, Mr. D. J. Abang – Gos, Chairman of the town hall planning committee said the objective of the meeting is to deepen democracy and ensure transparency, accountability and good governance.
With time, the committee will extend the town hall meetings to the districts, communities and constituencies.
The Bolgatanga Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) Hon. Epsona Harry Ayamga told the meeting that since the upgrading of the assembly to a municipal status, it has seen improvement in physical and socio-economic development amidst a myriad of challenges.
Honourable Ayamga said the municipality will continue to forge forward in development by vigorously mobilising available human and material resources for efficient implementation of programmes.
The MCE noted that development targets can only be met if people approach their duties with discipline, transparency and accountability. He said the needed motivation will come if these values are adhered to.
He further noted that last year witnessed aggressive political activities whilst the early part of this year also saw transitional arrangements leaving little time for the development agenda. He therefore acknowledged the support the municipality got from various development partners and NGOs such as Action Aid and the EU Micro projects programme.
On economic gains made by the assembly, Honourable Ayamga observed that a total of 251, 088.80 Ghanaian Cedis was collected by September 30, 2009 as against the projected target of GH¢ 206,820.00 indicating an improvement in revenue mobilisation.
He also pledged the municipality’s continuous assistance to physically challenged students and needy but brilliant students while extending the same support to sports development.
The MCE said there have been positive collaborations with Zoom Lion Ghana Limited, a waste management company in ensuring high sanitation standards but regretted that efforts geared towards sanitation are thwarted by indiscriminate disposal of refuse.
Issues including revamping of the Bolgatanga meat factory, rice mills and the setting of a national uniform price for cement came up during an open forum. The Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Woyongo responded saying the cost of cement will go down as soon as the Buipe Cement factory starts production in June 2010.
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