The over Lord of Bulsa Traditional Area in the Upper East Region, Nab Azagsuk Azantilow, has appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to ensure cost of building materials remains the same in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions as they are in the Southern part of the country.
Stating the high level of poverty in the three regions, the paramount chief said; “The people of the three regions live in a deficit housing environment yet these poor people pay more for cement and other building materials than their brothers and sisters in the southern part of Ghana. While a bag of cement in Kumasis is GH₵ 30.00, in Fumbisi, it is sold for GH₵ 40,00.” He compared.
Delivering a speech when President Nana Akufo-Addo paid a working visit to Sandema last Friday as part of his two-day working visit to the Upper East Region, Nab Azantilow, further observed that; “In the brewing industry the price of beer is uniform. Perhaps, we can bring great relief to those in the north [Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions] by establishing depots in each of the three regions where cement will be sold at factory price.”
Having commended the presented for fulfilling his promise of implementing Free Senior High School Policy and Planting for Food and Jobs Programme, the Over Lord appealed to the president for a tertiary institution for his traditional area which encompasses two administrative districts – Bulsa North and Bulsa South. He was of the view that the lack of a tertiary institution in the area denies many young graduates of second cycle institutions the opportunity to enter into tertiary education.
Nab Azantilow, lamented over poor road network in his area and appealed to the President to tar Navrongo-Sandema-Wiaga-Fumbisi road and Sandema-Doninga-Santejam-Wa road. According to him, the two roads are of immense economic importance to the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme.
Among the list of the chief’s requests was also for the Bulsa North District to be upgraded to a municipal assembly’s status.
He disclosed that in line with the President’s vision of industrialising Ghana by establishing a factor each in all the districts, his traditional council has donated a 3,000-acre land for the establishment of an industrial park. Again, the council, upon a request by the ministry of health, has also released a parcel of land for the construction of a district hospital at Sandema and documentations for the lands been done.
President Akufo-Addo reiterated that for the country to address all its challenges in this 21st century there should be no impediments to access to education thus his fulfillment of the Free SHS Education and the move to double the number of students who benefited last year from 90,000 to 180,000 in the next academic starting in September this year.
He announced that this year, his government will construct 570 dams under the One Village One Dam in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West Regions. Out of the number, Bulsa North and Bulsa South Districts would get 10 dams each.
According President Akufo-Addo, the Planting for Food and Jobs Programme supported 200,000 farmers across the country last year with 13,000 farmers benefiting from the programme Upper East Region. Out of the number, 3,719 beneficiaries in the Sandema Traditional Area received improved seedlings and 18, 000 metric tons of fertilizers.
President Akufo-Addo further disclosed that this year, his government will establish 50 warehouses across the country to provide storage for the output of farmers. This he said will solve perennial problem of farm produce getting rotten in the country. In the Upper East Region, 5 of those warehouses will be constructed with Sandema benefiting from 1.
According to the President, Parliament is considering approval of 150 million dollar loan from Indian Exim Bank to the government of Ghana for the creation of Agriculture Mechanisation Centers which would involve tractors. The centers, he said, would provide agriculture centres for the farmers.
On his appeals, the President assured the chief that his government would address them.
While in the district, President Akufo-addo inspected ongoing works on the Chuchuliga-Sandema-Wiaga road and assured the chief and his people government has made funding available for the project to be completed.
Among those who joined the President on his two-day tour of the Upper East Region included Defense Minister, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama, Deputy Attoney-General, Mr. Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, Upper East Regional Minister, Mr. Rockson Ayine Bukari and Municipal and District Chief Executives in the region.
Source:A1Radioonline.com
