Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Stephen Yakubu, has pledged to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the exclusion of the Sissala area from the European Union (EU) Farm Roads project, ensuring that the reasons for the oversight are thoroughly examined and addressed.
He vowed to explore all possible avenues to incorporate the Sissala roads into the EU Farm roads project, even if it is already in progress, to ensure the area is not left behind.
He emphasized that the government’s top priority is to deliver development to every corner of Ghana, including the Sissala area, and that no effort will be spared to bring progress and prosperity to the region.
“Lopsided development is not good for nation-building and I will ask the necessary questions as to why the EU Farm Roads project did not include this area and if it is not too late, we will see if something can be done about it”.
Mr. Stephen Yakubu
Furthermore, he committed to vigorously advocate for the Sissala roads project, seeking direct support from the President and Vice President, to ensure its completion with or without the European Union Farm Roads project, in order to uphold the trust placed in the incumbent NPP government.
Mr. Yakubu made these assurances in response to the concerns raised by local chiefs during his courtesy visit to the leaders of the Tumu Traditional Council in the Sissala East Municipality, as part of his familiarization tour of the region.
Kuoro Mahamud Savei Zakaria, Vice President of the Tumu Traditional Council, expressed the Sissala people’s deep disappointment and frustration to the minister, stemming from the area’s exclusion from the 60-kilometer European Union-funded farm access roads project.
“Surprisingly we hear 70 percent of the roads are done and not a single kilometer comes to this area, this, we feel discriminated against and neglected”.
Kuoro Mahamud Savei Zakaria
Call For Urgent Action on Tumu-Navrongo-Bolgatanga Highway Project
Furthermore, Kuoro Zakaria expressed concern that despite ongoing construction on the Tumu-Navrongo-Bolgatanga highway, progress is slow.
As such, he urged the government to expedite funding to the contractors, highlighting the urgency of connecting the two regions with a tarred road, a long-overdue development milestone.
Moreover, Mr. Yakubu noted that the EU Farm Roads project is a significant investment in the Upper West Region of Ghana, aimed at enhancing the region’s agricultural productivity and economic growth.
With funding of 35 million Euros from the European Union under its Ghana Agricultural Program (EU-GAP), the project seeks to rehabilitate and maintain 670.2 kilometers of feeder and farm access roads.
As such, this initiative, Mr. Yakubu stated, will improve road infrastructure, reduce transportation costs, and increase access to markets for farmers, ultimately boosting the region’s economic transformation and development.
The project is a vital step towards promoting sustainable agriculture and poverty reduction in the region.
Moreover, Kuoro Zakaria praised the government for enhancing security measures and logistics in the region and appealed for the next phase of the Planting for Food and Jobs program to prioritize support for vulnerable farmers.
He also urged the government to ensure that farmers have timely access to essential resources such as fertilizers, tractor services, and quality seeds, to empower them and enhance their productivity.
Accordingly, Mr. Yakubu reassured the people that he would work diligently to ensure the area receives its fair share of development projects, pledging to collaborate closely with relevant stakeholders to make certain that the right things were done and that progress is made.
Furthermore, he reaffirmed his commitment to persistently address and resolve the issues of the people, striving to make Tumu a better place to live, and creating a brighter future for its residents, despite the numerous challenges.
“The road network, the schools, the hospitals, electricity, security bit, fertilizer, we will keep pushing till we all enjoy them“. – Mr. Stephen Yakubu
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