Award-winning investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has emphasized the urgent need for decentralization in Ghana as a means to close the widening development gap between urban and rural communities, especially in the northern parts of the country.
In an exclusive interview on A1 Radio during a private visit to the Upper East Region, Mr. Awuni underscored the persistent infrastructural neglect in many rural districts, citing poor road networks, inadequate healthcare facilities, and the lack of essential social infrastructure as major barriers to progress.
“The Upper East Region is one of the most deprived regions in terms of development,” he said. “Decentralization will not only empower local authorities to make timely and context-specific decisions, but it will also ensure that resources are fairly and equitably distributed to address the pressing needs of the people.”
Manasseh called on the central government, policymakers, and development partners to prioritize rural development in Ghana by channeling more resources toward sustainable infrastructure projects in underserved areas.
He warned that if development continues to be concentrated in urban centers like Accra, rural regions such as the Upper East will remain trapped in a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.
“The kind of road networks and healthcare services we see in Accra should not be considered a luxury in places like the Upper East Region. People here deserve better,” Manasseh stated.
He further encouraged citizens to hold local leaders accountable and to actively advocate for policies that promote decentralization and equitable national development.
Manasseh Azure Awuni, known for his fearless journalism and powerful social advocacy, concluded with a call for stronger political will to implement reforms that would foster inclusive development and ensure that no region in Ghana is left behind.
Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Moses Apiah|Bolgatanga
