UE @ 50 PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENTS REPORT
UE @ 50 PLANNING COMMITTEE PRESENTS REPORT
BY PETER ATOGEWE WEDAM OCTOBER 23, 2009
I S D – BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
Close to 300,000 Ghana Cedis is needed to build a website, carry out publicity activities on radio, television and other media and also to organise an array of programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the Upper East Region.
The amount excludes expenditure on development, infrastructural improvement and a proposed special golden jubilee project. These came to light when the Upper East Region @ 50 planning committee presented its report to the regional minister.
The Chairman of the committee, His Excellency Donald Adabere who is also Ghana’s ambassador to Mali and one time Upper East regional minister said the region’s 50th anniversary celebrations will commence in December 2009 and end in November 2010.
Mr. Adabere said the celebrations will be used to highlight the region’s achievements, market its potentials to the world to induce investments and promote tourism. Also distinguished persons and institutions will be awarded for their contributions to the development of Upper East.
He appealed to the Upper East Regional, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo to source funding from central government in aid of activities proposed by the committee. He said the planning committee will also embark on a fund raising exercise and levy municipal and district assemblies while appeals will be made to corporate bodies for sponsorship and funding.
Mr. Adabere stated that the committee’s report is not absolute yet and is thus opened to the sons and daughters of the region that have new inputs and ideas to add. Meanwhile, the committee has proposed “Upper East Region @ 50 – Harnessing our endowed resources for accelerated development through education” as the theme for the anniversary.
He apologised on behalf of members of the committee for the late submission of its report saying members had to combine their regular duties with that of the committee’s work. The scheduled date for the submission was July 1, 2009.
On receiving the committee’s report, Upper East Regional Minister, Honourable Mark Owen Woyongo said the Regional Coordinating Council [RCC] will study it and give the necessary support. He said for instance, the RCC will hasten the building of a website to market the anniversary and the proposed activities. This website will be completed and become accessible by this November ending.
The regional minister said a delegation will be sent to the Brong Ahafo Region to understudy that region’s golden jubilee celebrations in order to come out with excellent planning. Also, a media consultant has been contracted to take charge of marketing the golden jubilee.
Honourable Woyongo revealed that the RCC has secured 5.4 million Ghana Cedis from the presidency part of which will go into major renovation and face-lift works for the RCC, the residency and other selected state establishments. The amount comes from the region’s 2010 budget.
For instance approval has been given for the construction of two kilometres of tar road in the municipality whilst 96 million dollars is needed to asphalt the Bolga-Bawku road.
Also, street lighting will be extended to cover more stretches of roads in the municipality.
The minister is also optimistic that well-endowed citizens of the region, philanthropists and corporate bodies will donate generously in aid of the anniversary.
He disclosed that special projects including a sports complex, polyclinic and roads have been earmarked for construction in commemoration of the golden jubilee.
Deputy Upper East Regional Minister Mrs. Lucy Awuni assisted the regional minister to receive the report of the planning committee.
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