President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to transforming the North East Region through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and agriculture.
The President made these assurances at the Jubilee House during a courtesy visit by the Overlord of Mamprugu, the Naa Yiri, emphasising that development in the newly created regions remains a top priority under his leadership.
Addressing the Naa Yiri and his delegation, President Mahama pledged that his government was actively working on the modalities to establish a public university in the North East Region.
“This is part of our broader effort to ensure equitable access to tertiary education for all our people in all parts of the country so that nobody will be left out”.
President John Dramani Mahama
He noted that this initiative is in line with his administration’s vision of inclusive development and human capital advancement.
Commitment to Road Infrastructure
Beyond education, the President emphasised the crucial role of infrastructure in bridging developmental gaps. He highlighted a series of critical road projects earmarked for completion under the government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure agenda.
“We recognise that development cannot be complete without reliable infrastructure, and that is why we are prioritising the completion of major roads critical to connectivity and economic activity within the North East Region.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The roads listed include the Nasia-Pwalugu Road, the Nalerigu Road, the Nalerigu-Binduri Road, the Tamale-Savelugu-Walewale Road, and the Nalerigu-Nakpanduri Road, which is part of the northern stretch of the Eastern Corridor.
He also reiterated his government’s commitment to the long-delayed Mishio Bridge, which, once completed, will link up previously inaccessible areas in the Yagaba and Fumbisi zones.
“These projects are all high on the government’s agenda, and have been packaged under our Big Push infrastructure program, which is designed to create jobs, open up local economies and improve the quality of life for our people.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Water Supply and Irrigation for Farming
In the area of water supply, the President announced ongoing work on small town water systems for Nalerigu, Gambaga, and Walewale to tackle the perennial water shortages that have plagued the region.
He also pointed to efforts to expand irrigation systems to enable year-round farming and bolster food security. “Government is pursuing the expansion of irrigation infrastructure to promote all-year-round agriculture and enhance food security,” he said, adding that this would be particularly vital in making the Yagaba-Fumbisi area the country’s new hub for rice production.
As part of that ambition, he disclosed plans to construct a modern rice mill at Jadema, specifically designed to process rice grown in the region.
“This mill will buy and process all the rice that is produced in the area. The processed rice will be purchased by the National Buffer Stock Company and supplied to our schools and hospitals, providing a guaranteed market for our farmers.”
President John Dramani Mahama
Boosting Healthcare Infrastructure
On healthcare, President Mahama outlined a raft of health infrastructure initiatives aimed at bringing medical services closer to the people.
These include new district hospitals and CHPS compounds in Yagaba, Bunkpurugu, Yunyoo, and Chereponi. Most notably, he announced that his administration would build a modern regional hospital in the North East Region as promised in the NDC’s 2024 manifesto.
“That will spare our people the trouble of having to travel all the way to Tamale to get specialised treatment,” he said, stressing the importance of ensuring equitable access to quality health care for all citizens, regardless of geography.
As part of a holistic approach to regional development, President Mahama also announced that all six newly created regions—alongside others currently without such facilities—would receive their own sports stadiums to promote physical activity and nurture talent. This, he said, was also consistent with commitments outlined in the party’s manifesto.
Turning to the challenge of youth unemployment, the President acknowledged the acute levels of joblessness among young people in the region and assured that several government initiatives had been rolled out to confront the crisis head-on.
“No task is more urgent than creating hope and opportunities for our young people,” he stressed. He cited programs such as the National Apprenticeship Program and other skills-development initiatives as key vehicles to empower young Ghanaians with vocational and entrepreneurial skills.
“We’re eager to partner closely with your colleagues and traditional councils to ensure that these programs are tailored to local realities and benefit the youth of Mamprugu directly,” President Mahama said, assuring the traditional leaders of his government’s readiness to collaborate and deliver meaningful outcomes.
The President’s remarks signal a renewed drive by the Mahama administration to not only correct historical disparities in development but also to make the North East Region a strategic node in Ghana’s broader economic transformation.
With a firm tone of urgency and inclusion, Mahama’s vision for the North East Region reflects a commitment to bridging the urban-rural divide and ensuring that new regions are not left behind in Ghana’s development journey.
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