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A number of initiatives carried out by the government through the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF) in the Ashanti Region have received commissions from Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
As part of his two-day visit to the Region, Vice President Bawumia dedicated furnished classroom buildings, a water system, and a community sports and social center at separate ceremonies at Asokore (Asokore Quranic Islamic School), Effiduase (Hamdaniya Islamic School), both in the Sekyere East District, and at Bantama in the Kumasi Metropolis.
Dr. Bawumia stated during the commissionings on Tuesday, August 2, 2022, “Zongo communities are important stakeholders in our determination to create a holistic and inclusive development in Ghana.”
The New Patriotic Party administration, under by His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is resolved to address the historical deprivation and lack of development in Zongo Communities in a sustainable, all-encompassing, and equitable way.
“We are determined to bring about the transformation in Zongo Communities by increasing access to high-quality, relevant education.
The primary organization and tool used by the government to ensure that the development goals pertaining to Zongo communities are realized is the Zongo Development Fund.
“Indeed, since Ghana attained independence no budget has ever been deliberately allocated for the development of Zongo communities. The establishment of the Fund dedicated to Zongo communities is, therefore, indisputably unprecedented.”
A substantial portion of the over 300 projects undertaken by the ZDF across the country can be found in the region, the Vice President said.
“Not only has government implemented a comprehensive development of educational infrastructure in Zongo communities, it has also intervened positively by improving health facilities, sanitation, human resource development through skills training and educational grants and in improving the ambience, visibility and security in Zongo communities in the Ashanti region,” he emphasized.
Vice President Bawumia said in a speech at Bantama where he dedicated a community sports and social center that the Zongo Development Fund Act 964 (2017) gives the fund the authority to provide fundamental services and strategic infrastructure in the fields of health, education, and sanitation, to encourage entrepreneurship and skill development, to provide social protection for the poor and vulnerable, to advance economic development, peace, and security, and to promote tourism.
“Government remains resolute in its resolve at bridging the gap between Zongos and other communities in Ghana. The past four years have witnessed remarkable progress under the Zongo Development Fund, in the provision of potable drinking water, community roads, ultra-modern basic school infrastructure, ICT Labs, Community Sports centres (popularly referred to as Astro Turfs) and several other interventions” he stressed.
While commonly referred to as playing fields, Astro turfs also function as community engagement sites for a variety of programs and events in addition to offering exceptional chances to develop gifted youngsters of both genders into successful sportsmen and women.
The installation of Astro Turfs has also benefited other Zongo communities, including Madina, New Fadama, Kyebi, Tafo, Walewale, Salaga, Akyem Oda, Kwabeng, Agogo, and Dodowa.
Manhyia (on which work has just started), Larabanga, Esikado, Chiraa, Sowutuom, Yeji, Bolga, and Dunkwa-on-Ofin are the remaining ones.
The Fund was thanked for assisting in achieving the ambitions for development of their residents by the MPs for Effiduase Asokore, Hon Dr Nana Ayew Afriyie and Hon Francis Asenso Boakye.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
