![\"zongo-devt-fund-1\"](\"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Zongo-devt-fund-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, has reiterated government\u2019s commitment to develop Zongo communities across the country.<\/p>\n
According to him, the implementation of government’s projects for those communities will be spearheaded by Regional and District Secretariats to enhance accountability and sustain the projects.<\/p>\n
He is therefore calling for support from all stakeholders at the local level to help bring positive change to the Zongos.<\/p>\n
Hon. Abubakar Saddique Boniface made these known to the press after separate stakeholder consultative meetings with leaders and residents of Zongo communities in Prang, Yeji, Techiman and Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region, to deliberate on the Zongo Development Fund, and outline key areas for the utilization of the fund for the welfare of beneficiaries.<\/p>\n
He disclosed that Zongo communities in the country have different needs and challenges, and therefore appealed to stakeholders to use the tour as a platform to share experiences as well as conduct needs assessment to enable him have first-hand information on some of their challenges.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
He said the Fund has been allocated a seed money of \u00a0GHc218 million, and its application will focus on Infrastructure, Sanitation, Economic Empowerment, Social Development, Cultural Promotion, Security and Crime Management in the Zongo communities, after the needed regulation and structures are put in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cResidents of these communities need portable water drinking, proper drainage system, good roads, Electricity, Schools and Hospitals and government through the Zongo Development Fund will address some of these critical needs\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
On Economic Empowerment, the Minister mentioned capacity building in entrepreneurial skills for the youth, to make them employable and develop the country\u2019s human resource through education and efficient health delivery systems.<\/p>\n
Hon. Saddique Boniface explained that for proper management of the Fund, every district will have a functioning secretariat and advisory councils to deliberate on their needs and interest areas for implementation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn fact, the bottom up approach will be used in dealing with the communities and their various needs, hence my engagement today is to listen to the people, hear their concerns to enable me to fashion out solutions to their challenges\u201d, he said.<\/p>\n
He gave the assurance that the Ministry will not be a conduit for corruption, and therefore encouraged stakeholders and contractors who will execute the projects to take advantage of local content to employ the youth in the beneficiary communities.<\/p>\n
The Regional Minister, Kwaku Asomah-Cheremeh, commended the Minister for the visit and pledged the region’s preparedness to support the initiative aimed at improving the well-being of residents.<\/p>\n
–<\/p>\n
By: Mashoud Kombat\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Minister for Inner Cities and Zongo Development, Alhaji Abubakar Saddique Boniface, has reiterated government\u2019s commitment to develop Zongo communities across the country. According to him, the implementation of government’s projects for those communities will be spearheaded by Regional and District Secretariats to enhance accountability and sustain the projects. He is therefore calling for support […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[5],"tags":[8222,3,1015],"yoast_head":"\n