The Zongo Movement for Development, a development oriented group for Zongo communities, has stressed its firm belief in the partnership of President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia for December’s Presidential elections.
In a press statement issued Tuesday, the group said after a careful study of the New Patriotic Party’s 2016 campaign promise for the people of Zongos, the fulfillment of the promise, as well as the social dynamics of the Nana-Bawumia partnership, it has come to the informed and firm belief that their ticket represents a hope for sustainable development in Zongos and the country as a whole.
The statement signed by the group’s national president, Alhaji Habib Issah Cisey said, as a zongo development advocacy group, they welcome the confirmation of the Nana Addo-Bawumia ticket for re-election their continuous partnership represents sustainable development for Zongos and the nation as a whole.
The group said in the build up to the 2016 elections, it looked forward to policies by the various political parties for sustainable development in the Zongos, but it was only Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia, who came out with such policies.
They added that after three and half years in office, they have demonstrated sincerity by fulfilling the promise of initiating sustainable development in Zongo communities.
According to the group, while other political parties had no vision and policies for Zongo Communities, it was Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia who announced their intentions to establish the Zongo Development Fund to speed up human and infrastructure development in Zongo communities across the country.
The group said after three years of establishing a Ministry for Zongo and Inner Cities Development as well as the Zongo Development Fund (ZDF), there is evidence of both infrastructure and human resource development through educational scholarships in various Zongos in the country.
It also noted that apart from numerous visible infrastructure development such as building and renovation of classrooms, clinics, roads, drainage systems, mosques, roads, bridges as well as provision of boreholes, libraries, ICT centres, modern football fields, etc., the ZDF, in the past three years, has undertaken the biggest human resource development in Zongos and inner cities in the history of the 4th Republic through education.
The Zongo Movement for Development said currently, 40 underprivileged students purposely selected from Zongos and deprived communities are in Cuba studying medicine through scholarship by the ZDF. Apart from this, thousands of Zongo children, are currently benefiting from the Free SHS policy introduced by President Akufo-Addo. Still on education, the administration of President Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia has also restored allowances to Arabic instructors at various Islamic Schools (Makaranta) in Zongo communities. It is important to note that this allowance was cancelled by the erstwhile government led by Mr. John Dramani Mahama.
On the 2020 elections, the group said it will be a contest of records, adding that people of the Zongos will vote the party and candidates who have demonstrated true commitment to sustainable development, and not parties and candidates who engage in the sharing of rice and sugar, as well as the promotion of divisive tribal politics.
By:Isaac Clottey
