[contextly_sidebar id=”wPqjoNfZDbqgoO2FwSN6puW2Yf5XbgAI”] Speaking to Citi News during a tour of Zongos in Banda in the Karachi Nchumuru District of the Volta Region, the Minister said: “I am very optimistic that by middle of this month [July], I should place it before Cabinet and Cabinet can place it before Parliament.”

Abubakar Siddick said collating the views of stakeholders represents an important aspect of the yet to be presented bill.

As a campaign promise, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), had pledged to establish a Zongo development fund to regenerate Zongo communities across the country.

Vision for Zongo Development Fund

Government indicated that it plans to prioritize five programme areas under the fund to deal with vulnerabilities in these communities.

The priority areas which form part of government’s 2017 action plan, will address the current state of Zongos which are challenged with poverty, illiteracy and high levels of social and economic vulnerabilities.

Already,government has allocated more than 200 million cedis for activities under the fund in the 2017 budget.

Skepticism from Muslim community

Following the NPP’s elections victory, a Muslim community leader, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu had expressed doubt that Zongo communities around the country will see any significant transformation under the NPP government.

Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, who also doubles as the Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, said the situation in the Zongo community might remain the same.

He suggested that the various governments have resorted to what he calls the culture of “tokenism” to exploit the Zongo communities for their benefit.

“Even the politicians themselves underrate the intelligence of our leaders and that is what explains the tokenism, the token approach to what they do to respond to the needs of the Muslim community. One of this is to dwell on giving Muslims bags of sugar and rice during Ramadan. As a Muslim community leader, I am looking forward to see how NPP will live up to its expectation.”

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By: Marian Ansah & Caleb Kudah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’ll submit Zongo Dev’t Fund Bill in July – Boniface appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said this when he was questioned on measures he will take to transform various Zongo communities across the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xy140vnmT0brNpLfsuRH6uQ3Lp8Uyin4″]“What I expect is to set a very solid foundation for the total transformation of the inner cities and the Zongos. First of all, I need to embark on a serious conscientization. The mindset of the people, mindset of the government and its state agencies and departments. Mindset of the NGOs and other non governmental institutions, and mindset of the whole people of Ghana; so everybody will be involved in helping to change the Zongos.”

The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) promised to transform Zongo communities through the establishment of what it called the Zongo Development Fund.

Asked how this fund will be accessed, the Minister nominee said: “I can assure you that my Ministry will not rush in getting things done. As I sit here, I know the processes that one has to take to have a fund established. We need to bring a bill through the President to Parliament for consideration before the bill is passed as an Act before it can be accessed.”

He was however quick to add that, his Ministry will be given access to a facility to help carry out the Zongos transformation agenda while it works and waits for the fund to become accessible.

“I am still a baby under the presidency, and so I believe that my budget is still under the President which will be called a facility, and for the facility, I will be able to access to do the job; but if it is a fund it will take me some months, if not years to get it established….I believe while we are working on the funds, we will be accessing the facility which will help me do my job. “

About Boniface Siddique 

Boniface Abubakar Siddique is 56 years old. He holds an MA in Economics from the University of Essex, MBA in Financial Management from the University of Exeter, MA in Conflict, Peace and Security from the Kofi Annan International Peace Keeping Center and a BA in Social 6 Sciences from the KNUST.

He worked in the Ministry of Finance for 14 years as an Economic Officer, eventually becoming a Senior Finance Officer. In politics, he has been a two time MP for Salaga from 2001-2009.

He also served as Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Minister for Manpower, Youth and Employment and Northern Regional Minister.

He is married with three children.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post We’ll have solid foundation to transform Zongos- Boniface appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The two leading political parties made promises in the electioneering period in a bid to woo voters of the Zongo communities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”NuxT1Ss7TuP420Y1fInUMeayvDpj0zhY”]While the NDC promised to make the study of Arabic examinable, the NPP promised to transform Zongos through  a Zongo Development Fund.

But Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, who also doubles as the Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, said things might remain the same.

“I have lived my life in this country across different political dispensations. I challenge everyone to tell me exactly what has changed. Not much has changed. The Muslim community, particularly the Zongo remains a disadvantaged community and that is why there is so much poverty, there is so much redundancy and lack of progress and it is reflecting in the attitudes of the people within the Zongo.”

He believes various governments have resorted to what he calls the culture of “tokenism” to exploit the Zongo communities for their benefit.

“Even the politicians themselves underrate the intelligence of our leaders and that is what explains the tokenism, the token approach to what they do to respond to the needs of the Muslim community. One of this is to dwell on giving Muslims bags of sugar and rice during Ramadan. As a Muslim community leader, I am looking forward to see how NPP will live up to its expectation.”

“In fact, we are watching and some of the things we have said against other governments we will say against NPP if they don’t fulfill their promises. The past governments have exploited Hajj and they have given the impression that government sponsors Hajj. Government doesn’t sponsor Hajj; but government has exploited the Hajj.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

The post Zongo communities awaiting NPP’s promises – Sheikh Aremeyaw appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.