The Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) and Rotary International are exploring an expanded partnership to accelerate development in the region, with particular attention to water, sanitation, education, healthcare and community development.
The proposed Rotary partnership is expected to strengthen cooperation between the regional administration and the international volunteer organisation, allowing more communities to benefit from sustainable development projects.The proposal was presented by Rotary International District Governor, Dr. Jack Andrews Dotsey, during a courtesy call on the Upper East Regional Minister, Mr Akamugri Donatus Atanga, in Bolgatanga.
Dr. Dotsey explained that Rotary, which has approximately 1.2 million members worldwide, operates on the principle of Service Above Self, using volunteerism and community-based interventions to address pressing social and economic challenges.
He indicated that the organisation was interested in deepening its engagement with the RCC to identify development priorities and extend its interventions to underserved communities. He also proposed establishing a Rotary Club within the RCC to encourage public sector employees to participate in volunteer activities.
Bolgatanga Rotary Club Records Major Community Gains
The President of the Bolgatanga Goodwill Rotary Club, Dr. Benjamin Apam, highlighted the organisation’s contributions to development in the Upper East Region since commencing operations in 2011.
He disclosed that the club had distributed more than 200 desks to schools, constructed over 70 boreholes, including 10 mechanised facilities, and provided 300 micro-flush toilets in communities.The club had also supported healthcare delivery through donations of medical supplies to medical stores.
Dr. Apam explained that the club relied on needs assessments to determine the priorities of beneficiary communities and ensure that its interventions addressed actual development challenges.These projects demonstrate the potential of community-based partnerships to complement government efforts, particularly in communities where access to basic infrastructure remains a concern.
The club’s experience in water provision, sanitation and education could provide a useful foundation for expanding development interventions through a more formal relationship with the RCC.
Minister Identifies Sanitation as Key Partnership Opportunity
Responding to the proposal, Regional Minister Akamugri Donatus Atanga commended Rotary International for its contributions to national development, particularly its role in the fight against polio and Guinea worm in northern Ghana.
He identified sanitation as a major government priority and pointed to Rotary’s micro-flush toilet technology as a possible intervention for addressing inadequate toilet facilities in schools and communities.
The Minister noted that Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) could benefit from the technology, particularly in schools without adequate sanitation infrastructure. He expressed the RCC’s willingness to explore Rotary’s ongoing projects and areas of mutual interest, indicating that the Council’s technical team would engage the organisation to identify opportunities for collaboration.
PEARL Framework Offers Wider Development Opportunities
The proposed Rotary partnership also presents an opportunity to complement the Upper East Region’s broader development agenda.The RCC has adopted the Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL) Framework as a development blueprint for 2026 to 2035.
The initiative is expected to mobilise approximately GH¢8.6 billion in public and private-sector investments towards economic transformation, infrastructure development and improved livelihoods.
The framework provides a broader platform for coordinating investments and development interventions across the region. Collaboration with organisations such as Rotary could help attract additional resources and technical expertise to support its objectives. Mr. Atanga therefore urged Rotary to develop bankable projects capable of attracting funding and delivering lasting improvements in the living conditions of residents.
The RCC’s proposed engagement with Rotary will be important in determining how the organisation’s existing interventions can complement regional priorities and government programmes.
Ultimately, the success of the partnership will depend on effective coordination, sustainable financing and the ability to translate development proposals into measurable improvements in the lives of communities across the Upper East Region.
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