A member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Upper East Regional Communications Team, Edmund Awuni, says he hopes the 2026 national budget will prioritize key development needs in the region, especially in road infrastructure, education, and agriculture.
Speaking on A1 Radio, Mr. Awuni said poor road networks continue to hinder development and economic growth across the country, with many towns and villages still inaccessible due to bad roads. He urged the government to include comprehensive plans to improve connectivity between districts and communities in the region.
“The first thing that I’ll be expecting from the budget is our road network,” he said.
He mentioned specific roads he hopes to see captured in the budget, including the Bolga–Pulmanko, Bolga–Naaga, Navrongo–Naaga, and Kandiga Junction–Sirigu stretches, as well as other routes in the Bongo and Kongo areas. He said the rehabilitation and construction of these critical roads would greatly enhance trade, mobility, and economic activity.
“It hinders development, it hinders economic growth. And so every government will be trying hard to see how to connect districts, connect regions, connect towns and villages. This is something that has been our desire but we are not getting it,” he added.
On education, Mr. Awuni called for the expansion and upgrading of Gambibgo Senior High School into a full boarding institution, equipped with new classroom and dormitory blocks, as well as teachers’ accommodation, to improve teaching and learning conditions.
He also commended the recent improvement in the Free SHS feeding programme and urged the government to sustain it.
“As we speak now, feeding in the senior high schools seems to be stable per my observation. We want to see that it is sustained,” he said.
In the health sector, he said the budget should outline measures to strengthen service delivery and expand access to healthcare in underserved areas.
Mr. Awuni also emphasized the need to prioritize food security and agricultural productivity, saying improved irrigation systems could help reduce youth dependence on small-scale mining by creating jobs in farming and livestock production.
“In that sector, we’d want to see what will happen in terms of irrigation and the rest. You know, in the Upper East, if our irrigation had been enhanced, most of the youth would not want to be gold miners. Some want to rear, some want to go into crop farming,” he explained.
He concluded by saying he would applaud the government if the 2026 budget delivers concrete action in these critical sectors.
“If the big push will actually bring these things, that’s my expectation, at least I’ll clap hands for the NDC,” he said.
Source: a1radioonline.com|101.1Mhz|Gifty Eyram Kudiabor|Bolgatanga
