Establish Youth Business Innovation Centers – GDCA Director to Government
The Executive Director of Ghana Developing Communities Association (GDCA), Alhaji Osman Abdul-Rahman has charged political parties to establish youth business innovation centers across the five regions of the North.
“Northern Ghana falls far behind in ICT skills. So we would like to propose for the establishment of youth business innovation centers in the five regions in the North to help the youth in ICT”, Alhaji Osman appealed.
He made the appeal at a Regional Stakeholders Forum organized by the Northern Development Forum with financial support from Star Ghana, a Non-Governmental Organisation to deliberate on the development of Northern Ghana.
The forum which was on the theme “Keeping the Northern Ghana Transformation agenda in the manifestoes of the political parties for the 2020 elections in Ghana,” sort to prioritize projects and initiatives that will accelerate development in Northern Ghana as well as lobby political parties to fulfill promises made in their manifestoes.
Alhaji Osman further states the Northern Ghana is blessed with many natural resources including minerals and lands, hence the need to strategize on how the people in the area can influence duty bearers to put those resources to good use..
He called on government to upgrade the WA and Bolgatanga polytechnics into technical universities as promised in their manifestoes.
“When it comes to education, the problem is the WA and Bolgatanga polytechnics have not been upgraded into tertiary institutions yet. So we want to see their manifestoes in commitment to upgrade all these polytechnics into tertiary university status.
On health, stakeholders present at the forum urged government to expedite action on the development of regional hospitals at the newly created Savanna and North East Regions. They also tasked government to resource various CHPS compounds in Northern Ghana.
Touching on Agriculture and climate change, participants also expressed their worry over the overdependence on rain fed farms. They implored government to check the importation of rice and chicken into the country, which is affecting the sales of local rice and poultry in the country.
With regards to infrastructure and private development sector, they tasked political parties to upgrade the Tamale International Airport as well as develop Buipe inland port. They were also advised to revamp the Zuarungu meat factory and establish another one at Wulungu.
Touching on Peace and Security and Tourism, Culture and Creative arts political parties were charged on their commitment to ensure social justice, equity and balance in undeveloped regions. He also appealed to political parties to green the North, and help eradicate bush fires.
BY: kANTON YASMINE