Citing a recent research conducted by People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements (PD) Ghana, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), he said: “As many as about 116 are still in their infantile stage, with some already fully developed slums.”

Dr. Anokye was presenting findings on a literature review and research methodology used in a study of three informal settlements in Accra yesterday [Wednesday].

They are Madina Zongo, Agbogloshie and Chorkor.

He said the project was intended to improve the socio-economic conditions of the informal settlers by strengthening their voices and improving access to justice and basic service.

“If we were to use the right based approach and people begin to know what rights they have, they can actually begin to hold duty bearers accountable and they can keep the fire on, as it were,” the lecturer added.

Addressing a national stakeholders workshop on the theme: “ Improving governance, voice and access to justice in Ghana’s informal settlements,” Dr Anokye said about 76 informal settlements in Accra had already developed into mature slums, which called for a two-pronged approach: preventive and curative approaches.

He attributed the fast development of informal settlements in Accra and other big cities to the inability of people to find affordable housing when they moved down in search of jobs, and the high cost of land that prevented people from owning their own houses.

Dr Anokye added: “when people migrate, they migrate for economic reasons.they come to eke out a living and they want to live close to the source of employment as possible.Anywhere far way would mean spending all their money on transportation.that will mean they will keep having slums around the core city centres because that is where the jobs are,” he said.

The study was supported by the Land Resource Management Centre(LRMC), people’s Dialogue on Human Settlements, KNUST and the International Development Centre of Canada.

To reduce this trend, Dr Anokye suggested that the government “must stimulate the market to supply housing that is affordable or ensure that we get a system where people can get access to build their own houses”.

He noted that even though there had been several drawing on house policies in the country, they had not been implemented.

The lecturer also called for a revision of the country’s housing strategies, where those who could easily afford would be targeted and supported to own houses.

In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of Inner City and Zongo Development, Alhaji Boniface Abubakar Sadique, said the Zongo Development Fund “this year and in the years to come will be the catalyst for transformation, the government envisage for Zongos and the inner city communities.”

He noted that the Ministry had developed a plan for a prosperous, inclusive and sustainably developed inner cities and Zongos on for thematic areas: infrastructures and sanitation, social and economic development, crime and security control and heritage and cultural promotion.

He added that that would be achieved through collaboration with various stakeholders to ensure that the envisage goals of transformation were reached.

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Source: Daily Graphic

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According to Alhaji Saddique, the priority areas which form part of their 2017 action plan, will address the current state of Zongos which are challenged with poverty, illiteracy and high levels of social and economic vulnerabilities.

He disclosed this during a nationwide stakeholder consultation on the finalization of the Zongo Development Fund Bill in Bawku and Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

The participants drawn from various Zongo communities in the region, made inputs towards the finalization of the Zongo Development Fund Bill.

Alhaji Saddique said the initiative, which was the first of its kind in Africa, will improve significantly the standard of livelihoods in the Zongos when the Bill is finally drafted and passed into law by parliament this year.

“The mission of the ministry is to coordinate, collaborate and facilitate critical interventions through affirmative action that progressively addresses economic and infrastructure deficits, and promote socio-economic development of the Inner City and Zongo communities.”

“The Zongo Development Fund Bill when passed into law, will provide financial resources for core programme areas such as Education, Health, Sanitation, Business development, Infrastructure and Cultural promotion.”

Alhaji Saddique reiterated that, his ministry will work in synergy with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to ensure that, the projects are well targeted at the intended beneficiaries.

“Some of the priority projects in the 2017 Action plan include access road improvement, alley paving, tertiary drainage construction, solid and liquid waste management, neighborhood greening, educational and scholarship support, primary health care facilities, vocational skill training and business incubation, as well as business development support in terms of credit, training and basic tools and service facilitation.

Other focus areas for the first year are local economic development infrastructure, such as markets and technology hubs, documentation of Inner City and Zongos heritage, cuisine promotion, built heritage listing and convening inter-faith and tribal dialogues.”

Alhaji Saddique cautioned that, the fund will not be a conduit for corruption, but will address the needs of residents in the Zongos and Inner Cities irrespective of their political and religious affiliations.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Dr. Bawumia made reference to the implementation of programmes as well as proposed policies that will see the transformation of Muslim communities.

Among these programmes are the $50 million Zongo Development fund, and the campaign promise to make Arabic an examinable subject in Junior and Senior High Schools, as well as the creation of the Ministry of Zongos and Inner City Development, to attend to the developmental needs of Zongo communities.

Speaking at the Muslim Achievers Awards on Friday, Dr. Bawumia said, “The President has a very high regard for our community… Nana Akufo Addo is not a Muslim, but he fights for Muslims like he was one.”

“We all know that for Nana Akufo-Addo, yes, he is not a Muslim, but he is so helpful to Muslims. When I talked to him about the Zongo Development Fund, he said, yes, let us do it.”

“When we talked about bringing Arabic to make sure JSS and SHS exams are written in Arabic in this country, he said yes, let us do it and we are going to do it,” the Vice President said.

Initial Skepticism from Muslim community

Muslim cleric Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, had expressed doubts that Zongo communities around the country will see any significant transformation under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

Following the NPP’s election victory, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu, who also doubles as the Spokesperson for the National Chief Imam, said things in the predominantly Muslim Zongo communities never changed in past times despite promises.

But following the creation of the portfolio to deal with the Zongos and inner cities, the Sheikh said he had cause for optimism

He said he was confident of the sector Minister, Boniface Abubakar Siddique’s ability to deliver on the promises.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The NPP promised to develop Zongos which are often characterized by insanitary conditions and poorly planned neighborhoods with high unemployment as well as crime rates.

Sheikh Shaibu in an earlier interview with Citi News cast doubts over Nana Addo’s promise, arguing that both the NDC and the NPP had previously failed on their promises.

However, following Nana Addo’s creation of the portfolio to deal with the Zongos and inner cities, the Sheikh says he is now optimistic.

“I think we have moved now beyond just a promise to the level of giving action to the point where it is put into effect because the first one was just a promise of a fund to be created, but the fact that a ministry has been created means that the Ministry will be given a mandate, and the Ministry will be given the resources to be able to implement that promise so it moves from just a mere promise to action.”

He is confident the Minister nominee Boniface Abubakar Siddique, has what it takes to deliver on the promise.

“I’m more than confident because he is somebody I know. He himself is a Zongo breed and he knows our challenges.”

He however called for broader consultations to be held to determine how challenges facing the Zongo communities can be resolved.

“There must be broad consultations to determine what are the priority areas and the issue of sustainability are areas that we want to look at. My expectation is that this Ministry will facilitate accelerated development. The focus that I am expecting should be in the area of education.”

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

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Prof. Ahwoi who is also a local government expert argued that the NPP’s promise to establish a ‘Zongo Development Fund’ is a ploy to attract votes and not a pledge they will honour.

He explained that the NPP resisted the decision to give Muslims public holidays just because they considered them to be a minority group that did not deserve a public holiday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IqnmZZnBAi71IpxXyl05S0KiBpJPbGCR”]”I was a minister in former President Rawlings’ government when we wanted to give Muslims public holidays, the NPP resisted it. In fact we suffered,” he said.

He pointed out that the same people are today saying they love the Zongos and wish to establish a “Zongo Development Fund” to advance the cause of Muslims, but it’s a pure and absolute lies and political propaganda.

He said while the NDC was making a case for the two days holidays for Muslims, the NPP resisted the move.

Ahwoi said the NDC ensured that Muslims were given recognition with Eid Adah and Eid Fitr being declared holidays.

He said this when the Chief of Staff and his team met Imams and people of Takoradi Zongo.

He told the excited crowd that though President Mahama and his Veep are not Northerners, they are very much committed to working with the Chiefs and people of the Zongo communities to address their concerns.

“President Mahama and vice President Amissah Arthur are committed to the cause of the Zongos and the evidence is there for all to see.”

He said the vice presidential candidate of the NPP is a Muslim, but Islam is not practised by word of mouth but acts that conform to Islam.

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah urged the people to vote massively for President John Dramani Mahama in the upcoming general elections to ensure socio-economic development in the country.

The team with the Chief of Staff include, a member of the NDC campaign team madam Faustina Nelson, Deputy Minister of Communication Ato Sarpong, Presidential staffer Emelia Arthur and some national and regional executives.

‘NPP has never liked Zongo Communities’ 

Prof. Ahwoi’s comments comes after the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Alhaji Collins Dauda told the people in Zongos in the country not to vote for the NPP.

According to him, the NPP is a party that discriminates against their kind.

“People from the UP [United Party] tradition are not our friends and such we should not be in bed with them. They are people the Zongo community cannot rely on… They are like lions, no matter what, they will not have good intentions for us,” he added.

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By: Richard Mensah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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