President Akufo-Addo bridges gap between north and south – Bawumia | Policy



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One of the major priorities of President Akufo-Addo's government's inclusive transformation agenda is to bridge the development gap between north and south, said Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

For example, programs such as Free High High School, Planting to Create Food and Creating Jobs, Planting to Create Export and Rural Development, The Initiative "Feeding to Create Food and Creating Jobs" A village, a dam, a warehouse, a system, irrigation and construction systems implemented and will be important to bridge the gap over time.

Speaking at the first Northern Development Summit, which was held in Tamale on Thursday, May 30, 2019, Vice President Bawumia lamented the gaps existing in many areas between the north and the south, while noting that there are also many areas in the south, such as central and western regions. The northern regions are also very underdeveloped (which is why the government created the coastal, middle and northern development authorities).

"The recent UNDP report on human development in northern Ghana, prepared by UNDP in 2018, is a key finding. Thus, as recently as 2014, the national index of human development for our country stood at 0.575 on average. Unfortunately, Northern Ghana as a region had only a human development index of 0.116. This index focuses on health, education and living standards. Other indications of development in the report are more disturbing. "

According to Vice President Bawumia, President Akufo-Addo is very concerned about the development deficit and is determined to do what is necessary to fill it through the deliberate implementation of development programs.

"The president has made it clear that one of the legacies he wanted to see was to bridge that gap between north and south, and we are going in that direction," said Vice President Bawumia.

Interventions in the agricultural sector under the Plant for Food and Employment program, which provided better access to seeds, extension services and subsidized fertilizers, have also yielded positive results. North, where agriculture is the main source of jobs, continued Vice President Bawumia.

Projects are also under way to increase the area of ​​irrigable land financed by the Government from 12,980 to 60,000 through the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam and Phase II of the Bui Dam Project, with agricultural mechanization centers designed. to provide help for plowing and other services, including Vice President Bawumia revealed.

"Access to affordable education is also very important for the president, so we have implemented the free SHD program to ensure inclusive transformation. I always say that Free SHS has been more beneficial to northern Ghana than anywhere else. People said that free education had always been in the north, but you and I know that it was not totally free. But Free SHS changed everything. In all the villages that I have visited, it is clear that it helps, "he said.

In addition to the multipurpose dam at Pwalugu, other projects are underway: the transport of Lake Volta between Akosombo and Buipe, the integrated steel industry exploiting the iron ore reserves in Yendi, the terminal of the Tamale Airport which will start in June and Accra-Paga. railway that will help bridge the gap between north and south.

Vice President Bawumia worried about sporadic disruption in parts of northern Ghana, pointing out that the conflict is stalling growth and frightening investors.

"As a people of northern Ghana, we must strive to build peace regardless of our political, ethnic and religious beliefs or affiliations. We must be able to leave the past behind and seek only to pursue a program of our resources to build a just, equitable and prosperous society in which the wealth of our regions will be equitably distributed for the benefit of our people. "

Until now known as the "Mole Series", the summit, which theme was "Accelerating Sustainable Development in Northern Ghana in the Context of Peace, Security and Ghana Beyond "Aid", brought together senior officials, including ministers from the five regions, Ghana's Development. Partners, civil society organizations and members of academia.

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